Municipality to ‘inherit’ villages

THE NORTHERN Cape provincial government intends incorporating 14 villages from the North West Province into Phokwane Municipality before the 2019 national general elections.

The number of councillors will have to be redetermined should it succeed.

According to the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) there are 31 629 registered voters in the Phokwane municipal district.

The department indicated that there were currently 19 councillors, where allowance could be made to increase the number to 25 or 26 councillors.

Coghsta indicated that an implementation plan had been presented to all departments that were rendering services in the 14 villages in the area as well as all stakeholders.

It added that none of the departments, with the exception of the Department of Home Affairs, were rendering services in the area.

The budget for the 2016/17 financial year was R500 000, while Phokwane Municipality was allocated a budget of R1.75 million for the 2018/19 financial year.

The department stated that it was struggling to arrange meetings with the two relevant Coghsta MECs to examine the legislation that would come into effect, while public participation processes still needed to be finalised.

Coghsta added that it had extended the deadline to allow the public a chance to give their input before advising the Minister of Justice, Michael Masutha, of any written objections and to look into the financial implications.

EFF councillor AM Siwisa pointed out that there was political resistance to the incorporation of the villages as there was doubt whether the municipality would have the capacity to render additional services, as it is overburdened in fulfilling its current obligations.