Key Takeaways:
- ActionSA has criticized the ANC-run Impendle Local Municipality for failing to pay staff salaries for December
- The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has dispatched a team to assist the struggling municipality with its finances
- ActionSA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango attributes the non-payment of staff salaries to mismanagement of funds and high levels of corruption
- Mncwango believes that smaller municipalities have become looting grounds for corrupt politicians and officials
- The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is facing challenges, including fluctuating support and ineffective leadership, ahead of the local government elections next year
Introduction to the Crisis
The Impendle Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has been criticized by ActionSA for failing to pay staff salaries for December. This has led to a team from the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs being dispatched to assist the struggling municipality with its finances. According to ActionSA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango, the non-payment of staff salaries is unacceptable and is a result of mismanagement of funds and high levels of corruption. Mncwango believes that smaller municipalities like Impendle have become looting grounds for corrupt politicians and officials, who take advantage of the lack of strong opposition to engage in corrupt activities.
The Role of the Provincial Government
Mncwango has criticized the provincial government and local authorities in Impendle Local Municipality for failing to stop the municipality from drowning in financial problems. He questions when the council was warned about the financial crisis and whether they had access to reports that indicated the municipality’s cash flow and financial health. Mncwango believes that the challenge in some municipalities is that there are councillors who do not know how to read financial reports, which makes it difficult for them to make informed decisions about the municipality’s finances. He emphasizes the importance of having educated and qualified councillors who can understand financial reports and foresee potential financial problems.
Corruption and Mismanagement
Mncwango attributes the poor financial shape of smaller municipalities like Impendle to corruption. He believes that officials in these municipalities find ways to loot public funds because there is a lack of attention and oversight. Mncwango also notes that senior officials in these municipalities often live lavish lifestyles, which is a sign of the corruption and mismanagement that is prevalent in these areas. He emphasizes that most municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal struggle to deliver services, regardless of the party in power. This includes municipalities run by the IFP, ANC, and EFF, which often blame each other for the problems that arise.
The State of Municipalities in KZN
The problems in municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal come at a time when the ANC is preparing for the local government elections next year. The party is facing challenges, including fluctuating support and ineffective leadership. Earlier this month, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announced that he would soon unveil a new team to save the party from perishing in KZN communities. The ANC in KZN received only 17% of the vote in last year’s general elections, which is a significant decline in support. Mncwango believes that the ANC is "dead" in KZN and that the party cannot be blamed for all the challenges facing the province.
The Way Forward
Mncwango’s comments highlight the need for urgent attention to be given to the financial management of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. The provincial government and local authorities must take steps to address the corruption and mismanagement that is prevalent in these areas. This includes ensuring that councillors are educated and qualified to understand financial reports and make informed decisions about the municipality’s finances. Additionally, the ANC must take steps to address its declining support in KZN and ensure that it is effective in its leadership and governance of the province. The local government elections next year will be a crucial test for the ANC and other parties in KZN, and it remains to be seen how they will respond to the challenges facing the province.
