By REGINALD KANYANE

4 September 2025 – The joint parliamentary oversight delegation, during its oversight visit to the North West this week, emphasised that the North West Premier and Members of the Executive Council (MECs) for Cooperative Governance and Finance, must also be held accountable for municipal failures, and that provincial inaction or delays in intervening only exacerbate dysfunction in municipalities.

The joint delegation has been critical of cases where the provincial government has failed to act despite having the legal authority to do so, and stressed that the provincial executive must now demonstrate how it will monitor and enforce compliance.

The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize said this reflects a shift from blaming municipalities alone to recognising that provincial accountability is central to stabilising governance. Mkhize said as a case in point, the delegation welcomed the urgent intervention plan presented by the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, to stabilise the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality on Tuesday.

“The planned intervention in Ramotshere illustrates why the provincial executive must use its constitutional powers early and decisively to address governance and service delivery failures.

“The delegation, comprising the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, is conducting oversight together with the North West Provincial Legislature,” he said.

Mkhize further said this visit forms part of a broader engagement with underperforming municipalities across provinces. He added that Ramotshere municipality is one of 18 in the province that had appeared before the joint delegation by Tuesday evening to account for governance and other challenges.

“Concluding the second day of its oversight visit, the delegation issued a firm reminder to the provincial executive council to utilise its Constitutional powers to intervene decisively.

“Like many other municipalities in the North West, Ramotshere Local Municipality has operated with successive unfunded budgets, is buckling under debt, especially to Eskom, and has also been experiencing service delivery protests over water shortages.

“The delegation was particularly alarmed hearing that political infighting and factions vying for control in the municipality culminated in intimidation by outsiders, and a shooting incident at the municipal offices,” said Mkhize.

He said following a firm directive to the provincial leadership to intervene and restore governance and service delivery in Ramotshere Local Municipality, Mokgosi presented an action plan aimed at stabilising the municipality. Mkhize said the plan includes engaging with municipal workers and residents, as well as establishing an ad hoc committee to investigate the conduct of councillors.

“Presenting the plan on Tuesday, the delegation heard that the Premier and MECs for COGTA and Finance had decided to invoke Item 16(5) of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, as provided for in the Municipal Structures Act.

“This enables the MEC for COGTA to initiate an investigation into any alleged breach of the code. An ad hoc committee will now be established by today (Wednesday), 3 September, to investigate the conduct of councillors at the Ramotshere Local Municipality,” he said.

Mkhize said the committee is expected to have its first briefing on Thursday this week, where the MEC for COGTA will outline the terms of reference to the committee members. He said the decision will also be communicated to the council at a council meeting scheduled for Friday.

“Also, on Thursday, the Premier and the MEC, along with the MEC for Finance, will meet with labour organisations for input on stabilising the municipal administration.

“This will be followed by a meeting with staff at the municipality to relay information on how to ensure their safety. By Friday afternoon, the Premier and MECs are expected to meet with the community and stakeholders to discuss efforts underway to stabilise the municipality and improve service delivery,” said Mkhize.

Welcoming the plan, Members of Parliament and Members of the Provincial Legislature noted that intervention by the provincial government was long overdue and that without Parliament’s oversight, the crisis would not have been addressed. The delegation also called on the provincial government to be more proactive in addressing the challenges that are surfacing in municipalities.

Members stated that governance failures cannot be treated as fires to be extinguished once they have already flared up, but that residents deserve stability and continuity.

During engagements with municipalities, Mkhize, who is leading the joint delegation, has consistently reminded the Premier and MEC of their constitutional responsibilities to support municipalities and address persistent governance failures and maladministration.

“You have the authority given to you by the Constitution, and we expect you to use it,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of regular progress reports to both the provincial legislature and Parliament, allowing members and the public to monitor improvements and hold leaders accountable.

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