MAFUBE – DIE PRYS VAN ONBEVOEGDHEID, ARROGANSIE EN SELFVOLDAANHEID / MAFUBE – THE COST OF INCOMPETENCE, ARROGANCE, AND SELF-SATISFACTION MBF's

MBF se herstelplan vir Mafube

Teen die einde van 2019 het die Mafube Besigheidsforum (MBF) 'n herstelplan vir die Mafube Plaaslike Munisipaliteit (MPM) ingedien na 'n tweedaagse werkswinkel wat deur die nasionale Departement van Samewerkende Regering en Tradisionele Sake (CoGTA) gefasiliteer is. Die plan, wat bekend staan as die "Mafube Stakeholders’ Compact", is goed ontvang. Alle belanghebbendes het ooreengekom dat dit die oplossing vir die finansiële redding, herstel en volhoubaarheid van MPM deur gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid sou bied.

‘n Bloudruk vir ontwikkeling en vooruitgang

MBF sien die "Compact" eerstens as 'n deurbraakooreenkoms wat as 'n model vir munisipaliteite in soortgelyke nood kan dien. Destyds het MBF hom verbind tot die vestiging van 'n inkomste-invorderingstelsel wat 'n invorderingskoers van 90% vir die munisipaliteit sou verseker, waar die koers destyds rondom 10% van alle fakture beweeg het. Dit sou verhoog word tot 95% om dit in lyn te bring met die Tesourie-riglyne. Die ooreenkoms was natuurlik voorwaardelik en onderhewig aan openbare deelname, die vestiging van 'n geloofwaardige toesig- en ander komitees om maatreëls te implementeer en te monitor om dienslewering te verseker, soos bepaal in plaaslike regeringswetgewing.

Politieke inmenging – tot nadeel van die gemeenskap

Teleurstellend, as gevolg van hoëvlak politieke inmenging, het regeringsdepartemente nie die ooreenkoms nagekom nie en MBF het geen ander keuse gehad as om die Hooggeregshof te nader nie, wat gelei het tot die verpligte provinsiale ingryping by MPM. Daarna is 'n ander voorstel gebaseer op die "Compact" tydens besprekings met die provinsiale administrasie ter tafel gelê. Weereens is die ooreenkoms aanvaar en baie tyd en moeite is bestee om die besonderhede uit te stryk, net vir die provinsiale owerhede om sonder redes te onttrek.

Mafube bestuur ingnoreer aanbevelings en vermy deursigtigheid

Die bestuur van Mafube blyk om die Munisipale Finansiële Herwinningsplan soos beveel deur die Hooggeregshof te ignoreer asook MBF se Stakeholders’ Compact. Indien dit geïmplementeer was, soos onlangs weer deur die Parlementere Oorsigkommittee voorgestel was sou die finansiële situasie van ons munisipaliteit ongetwyfeld verbeter het. Volgens ons konserwatiewe ramings sou dit ‘n addisionele R195 miljoen vir MPM ingevorder het, en kon 'n groot verskil gemaak het in die versekering van dienslewering, instandhouding en die opgradering van die munisipale infrastruktuur. Die “Equitable Share Grant” uitbetaling vanaf Nasionale Tesourie kon dan ten volle aangewend word vir die verligting van nood onder armlastiges binne die gemeenskap om daardeur ook die plaaslike ekonomie ‘n hupstootjie te gee.

Besoek MBF | Kerkstraat 18a | Frankfort | 079 145 4295 | info@mafubebf.org | www.mafubebf.org | Volg ons op Facebook

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Recovery Plan for Mafube

By the end of 2019, the Mafube Business Forum (MBF) submitted a recovery plan for the Mafube Local Municipality (MPM) following a two-day workshop facilitated by the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). The plan, known as the "Mafube Stakeholders’ Compact," was well received, with all stakeholders agreeing that it would provide a solution for the financial rescue, recovery, and sustainability of MPM through community engagement.

A Blueprint for Development and Progress

The MBF views the "Compact" primarily as a breakthrough agreement that can serve as a model for municipalities in similar distress. At that time, the MBF committed to establishing a revenue collection system that would ensure a collection rate of 90% for the municipality, while the rate was around 10% for all invoices. This rate was intended to be increased to 95% in line with Treasury guidelines. Naturally, the agreement was conditional and subject to public participation, the establishment of credible oversight and other committees to implement and monitor measures to ensure service delivery, as stipulated in local government legislation.

Political Interference – To the Detriment of the Community

Disappointingly, due to high-level political interference, government departments did not comply with the agreement, leaving the MBF with no choice but to approach the High Court, which resulted in a mandatory provincial intervention at MPM. Subsequently, another proposal based on the "Compact" was presented during discussions with the provincial administration. Once again, the agreement was accepted, and considerable time and effort were spent ironing out the details, only for the provincial authorities to withdraw without reason.

Mafube Management Ignores Recommendations and Avoids Transparency

The management of Mafube appears to be ignoring the Municipal Financial Recovery Plan as ordered by the High Court, as well as the MBF's Stakeholders’ Compact. Had it been implemented, as was recently suggested by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, the financial situation of our municipality would undoubtedly have improved. According to our conservative estimates, it could have generated an additional R195 million for MPM, significantly impacting service delivery, maintenance, and upgrading municipal infrastructure. The "Equitable Share Grant" payments from the National Treasury could then have been fully utilized to relieve distress among the underprivileged within the community, thereby also boosting the local economy.

Visit MBF | Kerk Street 18a | Frankfort | 079 145 4295 | info@mafubebf.org | www.mafubebf.org | Follow us on Facebook