Earlier this week The Bulletin reported on the resignation of the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Thandi Ngxonono after she was implicated in the Section 106 (the Systems Act 32 of 2000) that was released by COGTA.
Today, The Bulletin received word that the municipality was placed under administration and that the whole municipal council has been disbanded. These rumours proved to be not completely true. The municipality is still intact but intervention from the Provincial Government will now be instituted
Section 106 (the Systems Act 32 of 2000) explained: In terms of Section 106(1)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act the MEC must if the MEC considers it necessary, designate a person or persons to investigate allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption or any other serious malpractices when it occurs or is occurring in a municipality.
In a media statement that was just released by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government in Mbombela, the Executive Council held a virtual sitting on yesterday, Wednesday, 28 October.
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This is an excerpt of the report:
“The Executive Council has resolved to invoke the provisions of Section 139 (1)(b) at Govan Mbeki Local Municipality.”
Govan Mbeki is not the only municipality in the crossfire. The following municipalities are also in the line of fire:
Nkomazi Local Municipality
Bushbuckridge Local Municipality
Emalahleni Local Municipality
Thembisile Hani Local Municipality
These municipalities were also investigated in accordance with the Municipal Systems Act of Section 106.
Speaking to Trudie Grové Morgan, the DA Spokesperson on COGTA, she said the following: “The Democratic alliance in Mpumalanga welcomes the placing of Govan Mbeki Municipality under administration.”
She continued: “We have been pushing now for the past few years that this should happen. The reason for the administration is due to the fact that the municipality is not financially viable even when it was placed under the financial recovery plan it showed no progress.”
Section 139(1)(b) can be explained as follows: requires the provincial government to assume responsibility because the municipality could not fulfil an obligation or the provincial government invokes the provisions of section 139(1) (b) of the Constitution over the municipality, thereby intervening in the municipality and taking over all its executive powers.
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It was made clear in the report that COGTA released that there were several high-ranking municipal council members implicated.
Trudie also told The Bulletin: “The release of the section 106 report caused the mayor to resign because she is implicated in the report and the DA in Mpumalanga will make sure that she is held accountable even if she has resigned. We cannot allow criminals to get away with wrong doings while the rate payers have to suffer without services.”
