By OBAKENG MAJE
The acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi said his government, through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), is coordinating extensive intervention efforts to assist municipalities in the province to implement renewable and alternative energy sources.
Maloyi made this announcement on 20 February 2024, while delivering the 2024 State of the Province Address (SOPA) during the official opening of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL).
“In an effort to end load-shedding, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Chinese National Import and Export Corporation to construct R16 billion gas to electricity power stations at both the City of Matlosana and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities.
“The first phase of this project will see the City of Matlosana producing 198 megawatts of electricity. The construction is earmarked for a maximum of 90 days per 100 megawatts. This latest development, is part of the continuing efforts to ensure support and interventions in municipalities and will go a long way in resolving electricity supply challenges,” he said.
Maloyi further said challenges facing municipalities, include electricity supply challenges as a result of aging infrastructure faults, vandalism of transformers and load-shedding impact on infrastructure and water supply leading to a collapse in service provision.
He added that, with the new power stations, they should resolve these problems. Maloyi said municipalities such as City of Matlosana and JB Marks, are also to insource road maintenance and pothole patching on an ongoing basis as a municipal function undertaken by municipal employees.
“This initiative will be emulated in other municipalities across the province. Furthermore, there is an on-going effort to provide dedicated support to all municipalities to improve financial management through the implementation and monitoring of the Financial Recovery Plans (FRPs).
“The Executive Council has approved the appointment and deployment of Provincial Executive Representatives (PERs) to implement financial recovery plans for identified municipalities, under the joint coordination of Provincial Treasury and Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA),” said Maloyi.
He said progress has been registered by the intervention team deployed to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, however, it is not significant enough to reverse the extent of the governance collapse in the municipal administration.
“The Ditsobotla Local Municipality requires constant and sustained support and intervention from Provincial Government before full recovery can be declared.
“EXCO has deployed a team of experts and other seconded officials to the municipality to assist with capacity we remaining hopeful that we will make the municipality to function better,” said Maloyi.
The Guardian 