By Thabo Mosia
Gauteng Finance MEC, Lebogang Maile, has raised serious concerns regarding the persistent lack of service delivery in black communities within the City of Tshwane. Speaking during a press briefing on 5 September 2024, Maile addressed several key issues facing the province, including crime prevention and municipal governance, highlighting that despite the provincial government’s investments in crime-fighting efforts, policing remains a national competency. He remarked, “despite the fact that policing is not a provincial competency,” the province has allocated resources to tackle crime, given the adverse effects it has on communities.
Maile’s primary concern was the deteriorating state of service delivery, particularly in Tshwane’s black townships and informal settlements, which have long suffered from neglect. The Democratic Alliance (DA)-led coalition in Tshwane has come under fire for failing to meet the needs of these communities, with many residents voicing their frustrations over water shortages, poor infrastructure, and prolonged power cuts. Tshwane’s ongoing coalition crisis, labour strikes, and financial mismanagement have exacerbated these problems, further limiting service delivery efforts .
The 2022/23 municipal audit outcomes were also a focal point of Maile’s address. While Gauteng’s overall audit performance showed stability, with seven out of eleven municipalities receiving unqualified opinions, the City of Ekurhuleni experienced a notable regression. On the other hand, Tshwane showed signs of improvement in its audit outcomes. Nevertheless, Maile expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that most municipalities in the province still fail to comply with procurement legislation, thereby hindering good governance .
In response to these challenges, the Gauteng Provincial Treasury has implemented operational plans to support municipalities and improve their financial reporting. Quarterly assessments are conducted to ensure compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), which is critical for maintaining fiscal discipline and improving service delivery. Maile emphasized that stronger fiscal controls and governance structures would lead to improved service delivery, enabling more resources to be allocated to essential services such as water supply, waste management, and infrastructure development .
The service delivery crisis in Tshwane has prompted public outcry, with political leaders and community groups criticizing the local government. Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, a key coalition partner in Tshwane, has been vocal about the city’s failures, accusing the DA-led government of neglecting disadvantaged communities in the capital. Mashaba’s comments come amid growing tension between coalition partners and speculation that ActionSA might seek to form new alliances with other political parties, such as the African National Congress (ANC) .
Despite these challenges, Maile reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to improving governance and supporting municipalities through capacity-building initiatives and fiscal oversight. He urged council oversight committees to hold municipal executives accountable for the implementation of service delivery plans. “Council oversight committees should hold executive leadership accountable for the implementation of service delivery plans,” Maile stated, stressing the importance of accountability at all levels of government .
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