North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements has withdrawn the Section 139(1) (b) intervention at Maquassi Hills municipality.

The pronouncement follows the decision by the Provincial Executive Council in their recent meeting.

MEC for the Department Collen Maine said there is a need to institute a different intervention.

“This decision came after careful consideration and the realization that the intervention has run its course and that the Provincial government should provide support to the municipality in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution” departmental spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane.

Section 154 of the Constitution states that: “The national government and provincial government, by legislative and other measures, must support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities to manage their own affairs, to exercise their powers and perform their functions” Lolokwane said.

Section 139(1)(b) intervention instituted on the financial matters of Matlosana local municipality will end 30 June 2014. In Ditsobotla local municipality intervention continues, however the current team deployed will be replaced.

Section 139(1)(b) of the constitution was invoked last year April at 3 three municipalities namely Ditsobotla, Matlosana and Maquassi Hills local municipalities following the decision by the Provincial EXCO. The interventions were as a result of governance and administration problems in the municipalities which negatively affected service delivery.

“Other reasons included poor governance and management of council matters by the municipal councils, poor leadership and oversight by the councils, breach of code of conduct by councilors, poor relations between council and administration, deterioration of service delivery, poor administrative leadership and lack of administrative capacity within the municipal administrations” she said.
-TDN
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