CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Government has approved a financial recovery plan for the Beaufort West municipality.
This after Local Government MEC Anton Bredell launched an investigation into the troubled municipality recently, citing complaints about poor governance and service delivery failure.
“I am aware of the serious financial problems experienced by the Municipality and the profoundly negative impact this is having on service delivery. I note with great concern the inability of the Municipality to pay its service providers and the instability within the administration,” he said.
Bredell had received a letter from concerned residents, municipal employees and civil societies of the town calling for him to intervene.
“As tax paying and loyal citizens of this town, we are concerned about the future and financial wellbeing of our town, since matters has been going from bad to worse over the “past two to three years,” the letter read.
As the Community of Beaufort West, we seek the help of the Premier and the MEC to place the Municipality under Administration, since it is evident that the current council does not have the political will, nor the financial capacity to get the Municipality back on its feet again.”
Bredell said he met with Beaufort West Mayor Gideon Pietersen and his executive on Friday where he was made aware of the financial challenges being experienced.
“It was agreed that a task team be established under the guidance of the Acting Municipal Manager and the Head of Department: Local Government, with the purpose of developing a support plan, prioritising the most urgent challenges.
“The support plan will supplement the Financial Recovery Plan, compiled by the National Treasury: Municipal Financial Recovery Service (Supported by Provincial Treasury and the Department of Local Government). The Financial Recovery Plan will address the persistent financial challenges in the Municipality.
“Together these plans will contain comprehensive support to improve good governance, financial stability, service delivery and the functionality of the Municipality,“ he said.
Finance MEC David Maynier, formally approved the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) for the Beaufort West Municipality on March 7.
Pietersen said they welcomed the financial recovery plan.
He said a “lack of consequence management and consistency” had contributed to the financial crisis in the municipality, adding that these troubles existed long before his term.
Community activist, Brian Jooste said he was “disappointed” by the “leniency” of the provincial government towards the municipality.
“I am just a bit disappointed that the provincial government is so lenient with the council and it's leaders and that they want to pump more money into the municipality, although they know the scale of corruption within the municipality,” he said.
ANC Regional Secretary, Windy Plaatjies said they appreciated that Bredell had resolved to meet with the political leadership of Beaufort West.
“We were really concerned about the fact that two different spheres of government engage one another through the media. We as ANC are looking forward to a good working relationship, and we have always maintained that together we can do more.”
We appreciate the robust engagement between the MEC office and local leadership in moving the municipality forward,” Plaatjies said.
The Patriotic Alliance did not respond to questions by deadline.
Cape Times