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MAFUBE SEEMS TO CHOOSE SELF-DESTRUCTION

  • Writer: MBF
    MBF
  • Oct 31
  • 2 min read

The management of Mafube Local Municipality (MLM) appears to be recklessly determined to walk on a path of destruction, self-interest, non-compliance and denial of community rights. After the disastrous tenure of Mothusi Lepheana as Municipal Manager, residents and business owners were hopeful that the latest appointment would bring the positive change we need. Our hopes have been dashed.


After Mafube Business Forum’s (MBF) successful High Court application (which was opposed by MLM and government departments), MLM was placed “under administration” in terms of section 139(5) of the Constitution, by the Free State government. The mandatory intervention of more than 3 years achieved very little and MBF again approached the High Court which handed down a judgement, ordering the opposing parties to report on progress in terms of the Municipal Financial Recovery Plan (MFRP). Despite being granted extension upon extension and facing contempt charges, the management of MLM have still not complied with the Court order.


Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry


Earlier this year a multi-party Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry was held in Frankfort to which MBF was invited to speak on behalf of organised business. Recently, the issues unearthed by the Committee were made public in a report which may be downloaded from the MBF website, at www.mafubebf.org.


Among other alarming findings, the following concerns are raised in the report:


  • failure to adequately address the chronic sewage spills in its authority, particularly in the Wilge and Vaal River;

  • failure to update the indigent registry, to the detriment of poor people in our community; 

  • poor billing system and failure to provide accurate accounts;

  • poor financial management and inability to spend Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG) grants;

  • lack of consequence management;

  • high number of outstanding creditors;

  • non- payment of 3rd Party and salaries;

  • failure to deal with the recommendations of the Auditor General;

  • failure to adopt by laws;

  • lack of public participation;

  • failure to implement the Municipal Finance Recovery Plan (MFRP);

  • non-compliance with subsection 144 (3) of the MFMA, and High Court Judgement of 28 April 2022; and

  • failure to implement the Stakeholders Compact agreed to in 2019.


The Parliamentary Select Committee made a number of recommendations, of which there exist little evidence of being attended to by MLM management. The CFO was specifically tasked to develop a Cost Containment Plan (including infrastructure maintenance, fruitless and wasteful expenditures, reduction of expenses, improving operational efficiencies) and submit this to the Select Committee within 14 days. It is doubtful whether such a plan was developed.

 

The Mayor of MLM was required to develop a stakeholder’s engagement plan to quarterly engage with MBF and other community forums on service delivery related matters including investment in local economic development. The Mayor remains defiant.

 

MBF invite residents, business owners and ratepayers to visit our offices at 18A Kerk Street, Frankfort on Mondays to Thursdays from 08h30 to 16h00 and Fridays 08h30 to 12h00. Call or send a WhatsApp message to Marina at 079 145 4295. Visit our website www.mafubebf.org and follow us on Facebook.

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