The North West Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) has placed the Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District under administration. The decision was taken by the Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC Oageng Molapisi who also officially communicated the decision to the Municipality. Molapisi said that the municipality has been for a considerable period characterised by instability in both administration and council which affected the ability of it to operate effectively, hence the decision to place it under section 139(1) (a) of the Constitution of South Africa, effective immediately.
“Section 139 (1) (a) of the Constitution authorises the Provincial Executive Committee to intervene by taking appropriate steps to ensure fulfilment of that obligation, including issuing a directive to the council describing the extent of the failure to fulfil its obligations and stating required steps to be undertaken by the municipality to meet its obligations,” said Molapisi.
He said EXCO took the decision to give the council an opportunity to remedy the current situation before it reaches a state of paralysis.“The directives should serve as an opportunity for councillors as elected by the people to reclaim their space, play their role and champion service delivery,” added Molapisi.
Addressing a special meeting of the municipal council today, 22 April 2025, MEC Molapisi announced directives to be implemented within the prescribed period.
“The directives to council include amongst others, to stabilise and strengthen the governance and oversight structures of the council, improve compliance legislative requirements for recruitment of personnel and acting appointment of senior managers, improve the administrative capacity of the municipality, improvement financial management, and Improve prudential management of litigations and related ancillary processes in the municipality,” added Molapisi.
Furthermore, the MEC said that the decision was welcomed by the councillors as the governors of the municipality and senior management of the institution.
“Starting from now, we will be presenting progress reports monthly to the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on the Intervention.We are happy that the entire council has welcomed the intervention without any hesitation,” said the MEC.
Some of the issues that the municipality is expected to immediately attend to includes but not limited to filling of vacant positions, especially at senior management level, develop and adopt payment plan informed by sustainable cash flow projections, deal with ongoing dispute between the municipality and the substantive Municipal Manager.
