Municipality unable to pay its employees
EMPLOYEES of the Magareng Municipality (Warrenton) as well as the councillors have not received their salaries for this month due to insufficient funds.
Workers and officials said that the situation was volatile and that the municipality could expect “anything to happen”.
“Who would not be angry if they did not receive their money? We normally receive payment on the last Friday of the month, which would have been last week.”
They stated that they were still reporting for work and had not embarked on any protests as yet.
“We do not know for how long workers will remain calm. They told us that there is no money to pay salaries.”
DA constituency head, Willem Faber, has called on Provincial Treasury to take immediate steps to implement a financial recovery plan at the municipality.
“The management and operations of the financial division are archaic and it appears as if they do not know what to do, while there is no compliance with the laws governing municipal finance.”
He said that the Northern Cape Provincial Executive Council had already instructed the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Alvin Botes, to intervene at the municipality in terms of section 136 of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
“This intervention was necessary due to the deterioration of the financial situation, service delivery and general administration in the municipality.
“The National Council of Provinces’ Select Committee on Coghsta went to inspect Magareng Municipality during an oversight visit last year, but even this seemed not to have had a positive effect in turning the ship around.
“The ratepayers of Magareng deserve the services of an efficient, well-run municipality with a clear direction on how it will improve on the ongoing chaos.”
No response was received from Coghsta or the municipality.
Spokesperson for the Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Zandisile Luphahla, said they would investigate the matter.
“We will look into the matter and are committed to ensuring service delivery.”