The unlawful removal of the mayor and a competent municipal manager are some of the main reasons for the financial downfall of the Ingquza Hill Municipality.
The municipality recently received an audit disclaimer for the 2019/2020 financial year from the Auditor General (AG). This is the second consecutive disclaimer received by the municipality.
Infighting within the ANC government led to the suspension of a competent municipal manager and the appointment of a junior manager as acting municipal manager. The ANC council also appointed a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who did not meet the minimum requirements for the position.
Before these upheavals, the municipality was receiving qualified audit opinions.
The DA Caucus is scrutinizing the AGs report to ensure that all political office bearers and officials who contributed to the downfall of this municipality through maladministration, fraudulent and corrupt activities are held accountable.
The Council continuously contravenes Local Government Legislation through the unprocedural/illegal removal of officials and political office bearers and the unprocedural appointment of officials to office.
The ANC is using Council to do its bidding in appointing cadres in the administration. This can lead to a situation in terms of which the municipality is rendered paralyzed and unable to fulfil its executive obligations.
We have written to DA EC Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Vicky Knoetze, MPL, asking her to request that the MEC for CoGTA, Xolile Nqatha, invoke section 139 of the Constitution in the Ingquza Hill Municipality.
This provision empowers a provincial executive to intervene in the affairs of a municipality that cannot or does not fulfil an executive or legislative function in terms of the Constitution.
Only a DA government can save the residents of Ingquza Hill from the uncaring and corrupt ANC, because where the DA governs, we get things done.
It is time for change, and the people of Ingquza Hill can make this a reality by voting for the DA during the local government elections on 27 October 2021.