Cape town: Deputy President Paul Mashatile has addressed several challenges facing municipalities, including corruption, financial mismanagement, and instability within coalitions, emphasising that the National Dialogue offers a significant opportunity to enhance governance. In response to oral questions about his responsibilities during a session in the National Assembly on Thursday, the Deputy President stated that a comprehensive strategy is essential for municipal transformation.
According to South African Government News Agency, Deputy President Mashatile informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that the government is actively pursuing systemic reforms through the National Dialogue and targeted interventions. He cited reports from the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), which identify corruption, financial mismanagement, a lack of administrative capacity, and insufficient accountability as critical issues hindering municipal performance.
In August this year, a National Dialogue was convened to address these challenges, establishing key principles such as putting people first, combating poverty, building a prosperous economy, and promoting good governance. As part of his responsibility to support the President in implementing the District Development Model (DDM), Mashatile continues to coordinate all spheres of government to improve municipal performance and address community concerns.
According to Deputy President Mashatile, the government is also strengthening support initiatives and interventions to address water-related challenges, infrastructure maintenance, and upgrades. In June this year, the government launched a Clean Cities, Towns and Villages Campaign in Kliptown, Soweto, in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The campaign is a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting a cleaner environment and improving service delivery.
He also mentioned the ongoing review of the 1998 Local Government White Paper and the proposed Public Service Commission Bill as part of the commitment to creating a more responsive and effective local government system. In May this year, the municipal audit outcomes for 2023/24 were released, showing that only 140 municipalities, or 55%, achieved either unqualified or clean audit outcomes, marking a modest increase from 34 to 41 clean audits.
Mashatile noted the significance of these audit outcomes, reflecting an improved level of commitment among municipal leadership and officials to uphold financial discipline, internal controls, and consequence management. However, he also pointed out the significant and persistent disparity in the well-being of residents residing in townships and informal settlements within the Western Cape.