Minister Zwelini Mkhize visits Maluti-A-Phofung

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Gugile Nkwinti, Deputy Minister Mr Obed Bapela, Premier of the Free State – Mrs Sisi Ntombela, MEC of Cogta  - Mr Oupa Khoabane, MEC of Roads and Transport – Mr Sam Mashinini, Member of Parliament – Mr David Mahlobo, visited the municipality of Maluti a Phofung on the 03 April 2019.

The purpose of the Ministerial visit was prompted by the lack of water and communities have made this known through protests.

The visit was also meant to assess progress done in the implementation of the section 139 intervention and engage with various stakeholders such as councillors and political parties in Council, Traditional Leaders, communities and consider additional measures to strengthen and address immediate service delivery challenges, particularly challenges because people do not have water. Other challenges are the water leaks, inconsistent electricity supply, and sewer spillages, roads, etc.

The Municipality of Maluti a Phofung has been experiencing political instability, poor delivery of services, maladministration, high levels of corruption, poor financial management and high levels of debt owed to Eskom and other creditors.

The Provincial Government invoked Section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution in February 2018 due to municipal failure to perform its Constitutional and Legislative obligations as it relates to their core responsibilities to communities and good governance.

The outcome of the Ministerial visit resulted in decision on critical matters covering the following intervention areas:

1. Strengthen and reinforcement of the Administrative capacity and capability;

Despite the secondment of an Administrator, Acting Municipal Manager, Human resource specialist, Acting CEO of MAPWATER, limited progress has been registered in stabilization of the administration, in terms putting systems and processes to strengthen performance management, financial management and service delivery.

The following senior management positions are still vacant:

• Municipal Manager: since 2 August 2017
• Director Technical Services: since 1 August 2015
• Director Public Safety: since 1 April 2017
• Director Community Services: since  1 April 2017
• Director LED: since January 2018
   

The Minister of COGTA, Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Free State Provincial Leadership have agreed to strengthen the municipal administration and second joint interventions teams covering the critical administration areas. With immediate fact, today the current administrator and acting municipal manager will be replaced and the acting posts will be filled as follows:

• Administrator : Blake Mosley – Lefatula
• Former MM of Tshwane, Director JHB Metro, former Governance expert in NW municipalities – Ngaka Modiri Molema, Ditsobotla, Mafikeng, etc
• Acting Municipal Manager:- Tebogo Mopelwa
• Former Municipal Manager of Westonaria Local Municipality and former Administrator of Ditsobotla local municipality.
• Acting Director Technical: George Joma
• Professional Engineer, 15 years experience in municipalities, previously worked at Maluti a Phofung as a PMU Manager, Nketwane as a manager water and Sanitation.
• Acting Chief Financial Officer - Lesley Mahuma
• Former CFO of Mogale City who brings extensive experience on financial management in local government.

The above team will be supported by experienced and professionals in the following functional areas:

• Litigation support
• Community Services
• Public Safety
• Local Economic Development.
   

Furthermore, the municipality will utilise the framework contracts available in MISA and Free State Provincial Government, including service providers that specialize in Auditing, Financial Management, Supply Chain Management systems and processes.  The Minister and the Provincial Leadership have thanked the administrator and the acting municipal manager for the sterling work they have performed under difficult circumstances.

2.    Addressing service delivery challenges

The meeting also agreed on a number of interventions that will begin with immediate effect to deal with water, sanitation, electricity and road problems. Below are the interventions agreed to :

Immediate actions to restore ater supply

It was agreed that MAP Water be placed under administration, MEC and CoGTA technical to prepare the process of placement of MAPWater under administration. Water maintenance plan and capacity assessment must be conducted on the current staff at MAPWater to determine if it has requisite and competent capacity to execute its functions.

Intervention on Roads

The MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Mr Sam Mashinini has undertaken to mobilise additional fleet to reinforce Maluti-A-Phofung’s programme for grading of gravel roads and other road maintenance operations. An engineer from the Provincial department will meet with the administrator on Thursday 4 April to receive the list of roads for priority attention. The fleet will be on site on Monday 8 April.

Intervention on Electricity Supply

There is lack of Electricity monitoring and measurement system within the Municipality’s area of supply. Networks equipment is in a poor state of repair, negatively influencing the ability to provide reliable levels of services. There is also lack of sufficient data to perform accurate network modelling and accurate load forecasting, including accurate metering data.

There are challenges relating to the current revenue management, adversely impacting on billing integrity, accuracy and the ability to collect revenue. These can be addressed through improved practices to ensure a fully integrated revenue value-chain. There is no system in place for the management of the maintenance process. There is over-reliance on individual artisans/technicians. Inadequate capacity, capability and succession planning within the Electrical Services Department is also placing a burden on the Municipality to ensure optimum network performance. Investment in the refurbishment and maintenance processes is insufficient.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently implementing an electrification project to the value of R3,2 million in Tshiame D within Harrismith, which is expected to benefit 200 households. To date, the project is 90% to completion with 155 households already electrified. It is envisaged that the project will be completed by before the end of April 2019.

A directive has been issued for the administrator and the acting municipal manager to expedite the availability of vending stations for electricity in all communities with immediate effect. The municipality has been directed to ensure that announcement will be made on Wednesday, 11 April 2019 regarding additional vending stations for the municipality.  The vending stations will start to function on Friday, 13 April 2019.

Intervention on Sanitation Services

The sewer pipeline was too small to carry the current load of Bluegumbosch. The capacity of the pipeline was 110 mm. It is currently being upgraded to 160 mm. This project will benefit 2 367 households. The project commenced in December 2017 and planned completion date is June 2019. This project is funded by MIG to the value of R 21.5 million and progress to date is at 76% to completion.

Minister Mkhize noted the good work of the Harrismith Crisis Committee. The administrator of Maluti-A-Phofung has been instructed to refund the Committee with immediate effect. This refund was occasioned by the fact that some committee members spent their own funds buying parts and fixing water pumps, which was the responsibility of the municipality.

It was also agreed that the provincial government should procure services of security services to ensure that the infrastructure is not vandalized, stolen or sabotaged.

Enquiries: 
Musa Zondi
Cell: 072 800 6449