Political infighting blamed for provincial intervention

CAPE TOWN — Provincial governments used provisions in the constitution to intervene in 13 municipalities in four provinces because of their financial mismanagement, poor governance or failure to deliver services, members of the National Council of Provinces select committee on finance heard yesterday.

In addition, 70 municipalities have received support for their financial management from the Treasury, which is trying to strengthen the capacity of weak municipalities to perform their functions.

Political instability was cited as a common reason for the interventions by provincial governments, seven of which have involved municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, three in North West, two in Mpumalanga and one in Eastern Cape. Instability was particularly rife in municipalities run by political coalitions, as there was “continuous chopping and changing of mayors and speakers plus overall problems of political infighting and tensions and interference in the political/administrative interface,” the deputy director-general for provincial and government support in the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Shanaaz Majiet said.

Provinces often neglected to adequately monitor and support local government as this was an unfunded mandate for which no funds were provided. Ms Majiet also said that provinces might lack the capacity to undertake this task.

She questioned the sustainability of some of the interventions due to the complex nature of the causes and the need to review the viability of some municipalities.

Ms Majiet said a draft Intergovernmental Monitoring, Support and Interventions Bill which aimed to strengthen the capacity of each sphere of government to fulfil its obligations in respect of the oversight and support of municipalities, has been in the pipeline since February 2011.

This was when it was first presented to a subcommittee of the African National Congress’s national executive committee. Approval was granted for further technical work to continue, but there had been repeated delays. The draft bill provides for clearer pro- cedures and processes for undertaking interventions under sections 100 and 139 of the constitution. It further establishes a range of norms and standards to define the executive obligations; and will ensure that the interventions are used as a last resort, only after other forms of support for municipalities have been exhausted.

The bill was withdrawn from the Cabinet agenda twice and was sub- mitted to the ministry three times in the last year for resubmission to the Cabinet, Ms Majiet said.

One of the reasons for the delay in securing Cabinet approval for the bill was a difference of opinion between the ministries of cooperative governance and traditional affairs and of public service and administration over which department should drive aspects of the legislation.