South Africa: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Chairperson Concerned by Closure of Emfuleni Local Municipality Client Service Centre

The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water&Sanitation), Mr Mxolisi Kaunda, is concerned by reports of the closure of the Emfuleni Local Municipality client service centre due to unpaid rent.

“The closure of the client service centre negatively impacts the ability of the municipality to collect rates and taxes, a key driver of municipal revenue. The inability to collect revenue will have an unintended negative impact on the ability to deliver quality services to the people,” Mr Kaunda said.

The 6th Parliament select committee visited the municipality and criticised the lack of progress in resolving material risks of governance and financial control within the municipality, which exacerbate the already dire state of poor service delivery. Furthermore, the continued attachment of the municipality’s bank accounts by service providers, such as Eskom and Rand Water, due to non-payment for services requires a focused and deadline-driven approach.

“While it is not sustainable that the accounts of the municipality are attached, it is also unsustainable that the municipality does not pay for services. The residents of the municipality deserve better basic services in line with the objects of municipalities as envisioned in Section 152 of the Constitution,” Mr Kaunda suggested.

The Chairperson also highlighted the importance of government departments paying the municipality for services to improve cash flow management and enable the municipality to provide services.

The Chairperson called on the municipality and the provincial executive to find a workable solution to ensure that the client service centre is reopened and that service providers are paid on time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.