KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has called on municipalities across the province to pull up their socks and ensure that their financial affairs are in order.
Speaking at an engagement with the province’s mayors in Durban on Tuesday, the MEC noted that only a handful of councils had acquired clean audits in the recent past, and called for a greater effort to improve this. “We want those municipalities that got qualified audits to get unqualified opinions and those with unqualified opinions to improve and get clean audits,” said the MEC.
He expressed his department’s commitment to assist municipalities where possible to ensure service delivery while also adhering to rules of good governance.
“We will not tolerate an adverse opinion or disclaimers as Cogta KZN,” Buthelezi warned mayors.
In addition to this, the MEC lamented the municipal debt, which currently stands at R3.5 billion, but expressed comfort at the news that treasury would step in and deduct money from departments that owe municipalities from December.
According to the MEC, traditional leadership is set to have a greater say at local government, with amakhosi now set to be represented in the Executive Committee at municipalities. He pointed out that while the legislation made provisions for traditional leaders to attend council sittings, it was important for them to be present on decision-making structures because they were the voice of the people.
The one-day gathering is expected to serve as a platform for the sharing of ideas at local government, including changes to the legislation that affects local government.