CONSTITUTIONAL COMMENTARY AND EVENTS
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ARTICLE: SOUTH AFRICA URGENTLY NEEDS A “MARSHALL PLAN” FOR ITS IMPLODING MUNICIPALITIES
The Auditor-General (AG) Kimi Makwetu and the Minister of Cooperative Governance, Zweli Mkhize, recently stated things are worsening with the finances (and by implication therefore with service delivery) at municipalities. The shocking figures in this regard are already well known: irregular expenditure increased to R28.3 billion (from R 16.2 billion in 2015/2016) nationwide – an increase of 75%. In addition, 128 of the 257 the municipalities across the country are experiencing serious financial difficulties, and only 13% (33) received clean audits. Eskom has announced that municipalities now have more than R14 billion worth of outstanding debt for unpaid electricity bills alone.
By government’s own admission, it is no longer necessary to continue embellishing the state of affairs. It is enough to make one ill, literally in the case of millions of South Africans who are on the receiving end of dismal municipal service, if at all. The question staring us in the face is: how can this crisis be solved? How can we get back to a place where municipalities put the people they are supposed to serve first? To answer this question, one first needs to examine the causes of this state of affairs.
ARTIKEL: SUID-AFRIKA HET DRINGEND ‘N “MARSHALL-PLAN” VIR SY INPLOFFENDE MUNISIPALITEITE NODIG
Beide die Ouditeur-generaal (OG) Kimi Makwetu en die Minister van Samewerkende Regering, Zweli Mkhize, het onlangs gesê dat dit al slegter gaan met die finansies (en daarom die dienslewering) van munisipaliteite. Die skokkende syfers in hierdie verband is nou reeds oorbekend: onreëlmatige uitgawes het landswyd na R28.3 miljard (vanaf R 16.2 miljard in 2015/2016) toegeneem – ‘n toename van 70%. Daarby is 128 van die 257 munisipaliteite regoor die land in ernstige finansiële verknorsing, en slegs 13% (33) het skoon oudits gekry. Eskom het aangekondig dat munisipaliteite nou meer as R14 miljard uitstaande skuld vir onbetaalde elektrisiteitsrekeninge het.
Dis nie meer nodig om verder op die toestand van plaaslike owerhede voort te borduur nie. Dis om van naar te word. Die vraag moet eerder wees: hoe kan dit opgelos word? Hoe kan ons weer in ‘n posisie kom waar munisipaliteite die mense wat hulle behoort te dien, eerste stel? Om hierdie vraag te antwoord, is dit eers nodig om na die oorsake van hierdie toestand te kyk.
ARTICLE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE WEAKEST LINK
The results of overall 2016/2017 audit outcomes prepared by the Auditor-General (AG) of the 257 municipalities are in. The results are grim and make clear that the local government system in South Africa is failing. The crux of the AG’s report is that of the 257 municipalities audited‚ 45 regressed and only 16 improved. Only 33 municipalities (13%) managed to produce quality financial statements and performance reports and complied with all key legislation‚ thus receiving a clean audit.
The number of municipalities with clean audits decreased from 48 in 2015/2016, to 33. In addition, 112 municipalities received unqualified audit reports with findings, up from 108 in the previous year. Qualified audit outcomes increased from 60 to 66, and four municipalities got an adverse report with findings.
CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
- Equality
- Non-racialism
- Gender Rights
- The Constitution
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- Property Rights
- Education
- Access To The Courts, Information And Fair Adminstration