Municipal paralysis
Iconic Afro-American poet, Langston Hughs penned a poetic masterpiece titled ‘Montage of a Dream Deferred’, in which he poignantly posits:
What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?”
In 1994, the ANC idealised and crafted a beautiful dream – the creation of a better life for all people. This dream captured the hearts and minds of millions of South Africans. A We envisioned a new democratic era that shall be modelled on freedom, socio-economic prosperity and good governance. We presupposed, in our conscience, that the dawn of democracy will actualise the creation of a better life for all people. We envisioned municipalities that will bring advancement and prosperity to our communities. We hoped and prayed that our municipal officials shall work diligently, honestly and competently for the people. Little did we know that our hopes and wishes will soon mutate into “a drying raisin in the sun”. The country’s dysfunctional municipalities are betraying our beautiful dream of a better life for all. Year after year, the
Auditor General laments the horrible fiscal state of our municipalities. Taxpayers’ money, running into billions of rand, are wasted, looted and squandered by unscrupulous officials. Chronic corruption, endemic nepotism, wasteful and fruitless expenditures have come to define our municipalities. Auditor-General, Tsakane Maluleke has painted a gloomy fiscal state of our municipalities. The festering paralysis of most municipalities is dragging our country into a cesspool of shame and failure. Out of 257 municipalities, 41 managed to secure a clean audit report from the AG. Maladministration, wasteful and fruitless expenditure, corruption and public looting are crippling our municipal entities. The worst of the worst are those municipalities that received a disclaimer opinion report from the AG. These municipalities failed to produce documentary evidence of their expenditure. They spend billions of taxpayers’ money but they can’t even produce receipts to prove their expenses. Only God can save us!