Fourteen district and local municipalities in the North West have until Tuesday to submit detailed action plans to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) after the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found them guilty of severe and systemic service delivery failures.
The SAHRC’s damning report, released last month, concluded that the affected municipalities are failing to meet their constitutional and legislative obligations—resulting in widespread violations of residents’ basic human rights.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, Head of Department Dr. Ben Bole said MEC Oageng Molapisi has acknowledged the seriousness of the SAHRC’s findings.
“The findings are quite serious, as you would understand that SAHRC is a Chapter 9 institution mandated to ensure that the human rights of all South Africans are protected,” Bole noted.
He explained that the MEC urgently convened a meeting with Executive Mayors, Mayors, and Municipal Managers from all implicated municipalities, where the commission’s findings were presented and a clear directive was issued on steps required to address the failures.
The municipalities flagged include:
City of Matlosana, JB Marks, Maquassi Hills, Lekwa-Teemane, Kagisano-Molopo, Mahikeng, Ditsobotla, Kgetlengrivier, Madibeng, Moretele, Moses Kotane, Rustenburg, and the two district municipalities Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Ngaka Modiri Molema.
Bole said the MEC has called on municipal leadership to urgently improve service delivery and restore community confidence.
SAHRC Commissioner Dr. Henk Boshoff has also pressed municipalities to act swiftly on the commission’s directives, warning that the SAHRC will not hesitate to “name and shame” non-performing municipalities.
According to Bole, the department plans to intensify oversight in areas where governance has collapsed, bolster support for struggling municipalities, enforce legal compliance, fill critical technical vacancies, and clean up municipal finances to improve accountability.
He confirmed that COGTA will develop a consolidated Action Plan to submit to the SAHRC within the timelines outlined in the report.
“We do not have the luxury of time. We must respond speedily to the issues raised to give our people hope and drive change in our communities,” Bole said.
