Intergovermental engagement: Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa engagement with Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, MEC Mokoena and local municipalities (mayors, municipal managers) to address electricity challenges and develop interventions on municipal debt management
Premier Letsoha-Mathae and Minister Ramokgopa will lead an intergovernmental intervention team with all Municipalities in the Province.
The 7th Administration’s commitment towards a functional local government that’s able to meet its obligation is displayed by the approach taken by the 3 spheres of government.
Majority of our municipalities have been put under section 139 intervention of the Constitution in the stead of the Provincial Executive. This stems from historical municipalities debts of both arrears and current accounts to pay Eskom for electricity distribution.
The municipalities inability to collect revenue from debtors and maintain sustainable credit control has been influenced by a myriad of reasons which the intergovernmental dialogue will be vested with among many other areas of concern.
Over the years the situation has worsened and had adverse effect on service delivery within the communities, impacting on operations of corporates, small businesses within those municipalities.
The situation needs an integrated approach which will ensure a sustainable intervention plan looking at medium to long term solutions, some of these plans might require financial reconfiguration, particularly given the country’s ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts.
The meeting outcomes amongst others will develop strategies that will ensure that municipalities are able to meet their obligations to Eskom, thereby ensuring reliable electricity supply for their respective municipalities.
The engagement will be followed by a media briefing on the deliberations and outcomes.
Media briefing details:
Date: Monday, 17th February 2025
Time: 14:00 for 14:30
Venue: 8th floor auditorium, OR Tambo Building, Cnr Markgraaf & St Andrews Street, Bloemfontein
For media enquiries:
Matshediso Setai
Provincial Spokesperson & Acting Head of Communications Office of the Premier
Cell: 076 630 3345/ 078 363 3631
E-mail: Matshediso.setai@fspremier.gov.za
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