More support for Msunduzi Municipality
A DEDICATED service provider will soon be appointed to assist Msunduzi Municipality in stabilising its electricity supply over the next two years.
This is part of the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) efforts to assist with its power supply woes.
The move forms part of the aid package to assist the battling municipality restore its service delivery capacity and ensure that it is financially sustainable while adhering to principles of good governance.
Presenting his department’s budget this week, Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka admitted that the municipality was facing serious challenges.
“Given the ongoing challenges at Msunduzi, we have, during 2021/2022, enhanced our monitoring of the municipality’s recovery plan as part of our intervention. We specifically addressed the issues of Msunduzi’s waste management, potholes, recurring electricity outages and strengthening the management capacity within the municipality,” said Hlomuka.
He told Members of Provincial Legislature that in addition to the department’s representative at the municipality, other officials had been deployed and were working with Msunduzi to resolve matters relating to government debt, which has since been reduced from R225 million to R150m as at December 31, 2021.
“We have also deployed external financial experts to Msunduzi who are working with the municipality for six months from December 2021. Additionally, we have deployed an engineering expert to work with the municipality on infrastructure matters for 12 months, from January 2022.
“A deployed electrical project manager has also been assisting the municipality in resolving the major outage caused by storms in December 2021 in Northdale. We will also be engaging a dedicated service provider to assist Msunduzi in stabilising its electricity supply over the next two years.”
According to Hlomuka, Msunduzi was one of the municipalities identified as needing assistance in the State of Local Government Report compiled in June 2019.
The report, regarded as the most comprehensive assessment of the state of local government to date, focused on the state of governance, financial management and service delivery in 54 municipalities.
The MEC told MPLs that in August 2021, another review of the state of KZN municipalities was conducted and some of the highlights were:
11 municipalities were found to be very stable and require only monitoring.
14 municipalities were categorised as low-risk requiring just general Section 154 support.
17 municipalities were found to be at medium risk and require close monitoring and support.
12 municipalities were categorised as dysfunctional and require highpriority support and targeted intervention. Eight of these municipalities are already under Section 139 intervention while the remaining four have chronic areas of dysfunctionality.
According Hlomuka, the department has now solicited professional experts, including technical, financial and governance champions, to be deployed in each of the municipalities that were categorised as dysfunctional.
Hlomuka assured the legislature that Msunduzi, like many municipalities identified as needing help, would be closely monitored.
“Our monitoring of municipal performance continues to adhere to the strictest standards. It is comprehensive, continuous and thorough.”