Govan Mbeki Municipality has been reclassified from a Grade 5 to a Grade 4 municipality, effective 1 July 2025.

The downgrading of the Govan Mbeki Municipality to a Grade 4 municipality, as announced during the council sitting on February 27, 2025, by the speaker of council  Cllr  Fikile Magagamela,  has been attributed to the leadership of key officials. These officials include Executive Mayor Cllr. Nhlakanipho Zuma, MMC of Finance Cllr. Aron Mbokazi, MMC of Budget & Revenue Enhancement Cllr. Jabu Zwane, Accounting Officer Mr. Elliot Maseko, and Acting CFO Mr. Amon Mavimbela who was appointed the 1 March 2024.

Previously, Mrs. Morufa Moloto served as the CFO of Govan Mbeki Municipality on a temporary contract basis, referred by the Gert Sibande District Municipality. During her tenure, the municipality achieved a Grade 5 status, largely due to her revenue enhancement initiatives. Mrs. Moloto resigned 29 February 2024 to pursue other opportunities. Subsequently, she was arrested on fraud charges. Notably, she was recently shortlisted for the CFO position at Govan Mbeki Municipality.

The Executive Mayor’s recent changes to the Mayoral Committee have raised some eyebrows, especially with the replacement of Cllr. Jabu Zwane with Mavis Nsibande on the Budget & Revenue Enhancement portfolio. It’s surprising because Mavis Nsibande’s performance on the Community Service portfolio didn’t exactly impress.

This move has sparked concerns about the municipality’s financial management, given Nsibande’s lacklustre track record. The Budget & Revenue Enhancement department is crucial for the municipality’s financial stability, and the VF Plus questions whether Nsibande has the necessary expertise to lead this department effectively.

“It’s worth noting that Executive Mayors often make changes to their Mayoral Committees to improve service delivery and governance,” said VF Plus Councilor Aranda Nel-Buitendag, “However, in this case, the replacement of Cllr. Jabu Zwane with Mavis Nsibande has raised concerns about the municipality’s financial future,”

“In my opinion, the appointment of permanent councillors without relevant experience has contributed to the municipality’s downgrading,” said VF Plus Councilor Aranda Nel-Buitendag, “Placing individuals in positions of authority without sufficient expertise can lead to ineffective decision-making, particularly when working alongside qualified employees in critical departments like finance.”

“Despite receiving our third consecutive qualified audit opinion from the Office of the Auditor-General last month, the downgrade is primarily attributed to Govan Mbeki Municipality’s reduced budget. This decrease stems from the municipality’s inability to generate as much revenue as anticipated,” Nel-Buitendag said to The Bulletin.

The Govan Mbeki Municipality’s downgrade from a Grade 5 to a Grade 4 municipality has raised concerns about the impact on councilors’ salaries. According to the speaker of council, Cllr Fikile Magagamela, councilors who joined the municipality on July 1, 2024, will be affected, as they will now receive remuneration according to Grade 4 standards.

However, those who have served since the beginning of the term will continue to receive Grade 5 salaries until the end of the financial year. This change is likely to have significant implications for the municipality’s budget and financial planning.

Ward and PR councilors aren’t responsible for collecting revenue, but rather for overseeing the officials who do. Unfortunately, it seems like these officials are dropping the ball, failing to collect the necessary revenue owed to the municipality. This inefficiency puts a huge strain on the proposed budget, making it challenging to allocate funds for service delivery matters

As councilors, their role is to ensure that the municipality’s finances are managed effectively and that officials are held accountable for their performance. This includes reviewing financial reports, identifying areas of improvement, and making recommendations to address any shortcomings.

The VF Plus is calling on Accounting Officer Mr. Elliot Maseko and Executive Mayor Cllr. Nhlakanipho Zuma to urgently address the critical issue of insufficient revenue collection. This pressing matter affects the municipality’s ability to deliver essential services and maintain its financial stability.

As the Accounting Officer, Mr. Elliot Maseko, is responsible for overseeing the municipality’s financial management. The Executive Mayor, Cllr. Nhlakanipho Zuma, also plays a crucial role in ensuring the municipality’s financial sustainability.

The VF Plus’s call to action emphasizes the need for immediate attention to this critical issue, ensuring the municipality’s financial stability and ability to deliver essential services.

The Executive Mayor’s recent changes to the Mayoral Committee have raised some eyebrows, especially with the replacement of Cllr. Jabu Zwane with Mavis Nsibande on the Budget & Revenue Enhancement portfolio. It’s surprising because Mavis Nsibande’s performance on the Community Service portfolio didn’t exactly impress.

This move has sparked concerns about the municipality’s financial management, given Nsibande’s lackluster track record. The Budget & Revenue Enhancement department is crucial for the municipality’s financial stability, and the VF Plus questions whether Nsibande has the necessary expertise to lead this department effectively.

It’s worth noting that Executive Mayors often make changes to their Mayoral Committees to improve service delivery and governance. However, in this case, the replacement of Cllr. Jabu Zwane with Mavis Nsibande has raised concerns about the municipality’s financial future