By REGINALD KANYANE

13 August 2026 – The Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Wednesday called on the City of Matlosana and Ditsobotla Local Municipalities to move beyond corrective plans and demonstrate measurable improvement in governance, financial management and service delivery. This call follows a joint oversight engagement with the two North West municipalities to assess their progress on matters the committees have previously raised through parliamentary oversight, audit findings and investigations.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on COGTA, Dr Zweli Mkhize said both municipalities were among the 69 municipalities whose July 2026 equitable share transfers were temporarily withheld by National Treasury as part of measures to enforce financial discipline. Mkhize said Parliament’s focus is now on whether corrective measures are producing results.

“What we now require is a report that demonstrates the impact of all the actions that are being taken. The committees acknowledged the efforts of the Matlosana Local Municipality to act on the concerns they raised previously, but stressed that the municipality must now show that interventions are improving conditions in communities.

“The committees directed the municipality’s leadership to provide them with updated and properly reconciled information on outstanding creditor obligations and payment arrangements with Eskom and Midvaal Water,” he said.

Mkhize further said this report must also outline the interest charges on the outstanding debt and whether debt-relief arrangements are making a difference. He added that the committees also want to see evidence of improvement in revenue collection and the resolution of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure (UIFWE), procurement and contract management.

“The leadership of Matlosana must further provide a report on sewage and water pollution, road maintenance and other service-delivery concerns, as well as outstanding discrepancies relating to infrastructure projects.

“The committees stated that they want to see actions taken against officials or politicians implicated in wrongdoing. Another area of concern for the committees was Matlosana’s reliance on consultants,” said Mkhize.

He indicated that the committees would like to receive from Matlosana a valid strategy to develop its internal capacity as opposed to outsourcing services that fall under the purview of Matlosana’s administration. Mkhize said the 2024/25 municipal audit outcomes indicated that 225 of 257 municipalities used consultants to prepare their financial statements at a total cost of approximately R1.6 billion.

“Ditsobotla has received disclaimer audit opinions for over ten years and is now subject to a national intervention in accordance with Section 139(7) due to ongoing failures related to governance, financial instability and failure to deliver services.

“The municipality is required to submit to Parliament a time-bound financial recovery plan, a programme to end the disclaimer audit outcome, an analysis of its debtor’s book and a clearly defined programme to process and reduce the UIFWE,” he said.

Mkhize said the analysis submitted by the municipality is expected to identify which funds are recoverable and irrecoverable. He said it must also explain how revenue collection will be enhanced.

“The committees directed the municipality to provide a consolidated report on all investigations into allegations of impropriety, including procurement irregularities, which are currently being investigated.

“The report should indicate which cases have been referred for prosecution or to the Special Investigating Unit for investigation, their status as well as all the disciplinary actions that have been taken so far. The committees agreed that the municipalities must share reports every quarter to all the relevant national, provincial and executive structures tasked with local government,” said Mkhize.

He said this will enable all oversight structures to monitor the corrective programmes and their compliance with set performance indicators. Mkhize said no municipality can turn around on its own.

“We have to do it together. Parliament will not measure progress in terms of plans drawn up or the number of meetings convened but in terms of achievements on the ground.

“In the case of Matlosana, this means revenue collection must be improved, UIFW expenditure must be brought under control and there must be visible improvements in services such as water, sanitation and roads,” he said.

Mkhize said as for Ditsobotla, it means improved governance as well as turnaround in financial management, by sanctioning those found guilty of wrongdoing and finally putting an end to the disclaimer audit.

The Chairperson of SCOPA, Songezo Zibi agreed and said that the joint oversight should ensure that findings and investigations lead to action. Zibi said this joint oversight must ensure that they close the loop between audit findings, investigations and consequence management.

“We cannot in future continue to have poor audit findings and our communities suffering with no action being taken. The committees will be looking into this matter, and we expect to see improvement in audit findings, internal control systems and service delivery.

“The committees will track these commitments and we expect measurable improvement in audit outcomes, financial controls and service delivery,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By REGINALD KANYANE

12 August 2026 – A man (24) was sentenced by the Upington Regional Court for contravening Section 3, read with Sections 1 and 2, of the Dangerous Weapons Act, 2013 (Act 15 of 2013), relating to the possession of a dangerous weapon. The accused, MarkWell Basson was sentenced to three years imprisonment for the unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, namely a knife.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Molefi Shemane said the conviction stems from an incident on 19 July 2025, when Constable Desiree Plaatjies (33), attached to the Upington Crime Prevention Unit, encountered the accused in Upington during a stop-and-search operation and found him in possession of a knife. Shemane said Plaatjies presented evidence before the court that was found to be credible, reliable and consistent in all material respects.

“The court described her as an honest witness whose evidence remained unshaken during cross-examination. Her testimony contributed significantly to securing the conviction. The sentence is regarded as a landmark ruling in the ZF Mgcawu District, as it is believed to be the first instance in which an accused has received a sentence of imprisonment for the possession of a dangerous weapon in the district.

“Historically, similar cases have often been withdrawn due to evidentiary challenges. The state prosecutor, Amisha Isaacs, commended Plaatjies for her conduct and performance during the trial,” he said.

Isaacs further said having personally observed her conduct and performance in court, she is satisfied that Plaatjies possesses the qualities expected of an effective police official.

“She demonstrates sound knowledge of her duties, honesty, accountability, professionalism and respect for the judicial process. These qualities will undoubtedly serve her well in a position of greater responsibility.

“The exemplary conduct, legal aptitude and thorough trial preparation demonstrated by Plaatjies reflect the high professional standards expected of members of the South African Police Service (SAPS),” said Isaacs.

She said her performance not only contributed to a precedent-setting conviction in the ZF Mgcawu District, but also demonstrates her potential for greater responsibility and leadership within the organisation. Isaacs said the conviction further underscores the seriousness with which the criminal justice system views the unlawful possession of dangerous weapons.

“It reinforces the objectives of deterrence, crime prevention, rehabilitation and the protection of communities. The unlawful possession of dangerous weapons poses a significant threat to public safety, as such weapons can be used to commit acts of violence, intimidation and other serious offences,” she said.

Meanwhile, the ZF Mgcawu District Police Commissioner, Major General Monica Sebili, echoed the prosecutor’s commendation and welcomed the sentence, stating that it sends a strong message to individuals who unlawfully possess dangerous weapons.

“This sentence serves as a deterrent to individuals who may unlawfully possess dangerous weapons, reinforces respect for the rule of law and promotes public confidence in the criminal justice system.

“It further contributes to the prevention of violent crime by holding offenders accountable and demonstrating that the unlawful possession of dangerous weapons will not be tolerated,” she said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com