Premier meets with Mangaung Metro Leadership regarding disconnection of services at some government buildings
Following the decision by Mangaung Metro Municipality to disconnect water and electricity supply some government buildings, including Fidel Castro Building and OR Tambo House, both located in Bloemfontein, Mangaung, the Premier of the Free State, Hon. Sefora ‘Sisi’ Ntombela, today convened a meeting with the goal to find lasting solutions to the matter.
The meeting was facilitated by Hon. Premier Ntombela, and attended by the Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Cllr. Olly Mlamleli, MEC of Treasury, Hon. Elzabe Rockman, MEC of Public Works, Infrastructure and Human Settlements (PWI & HS), Hon. Dora Kotzee, MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Hon. Oupa Khoabane, Mangaung’s Members of the Mayoral Committee, Director-General of the Free State Provincial Government, Mr. Kopung Ralikontsane, Heads of Departments of CoGTA and PWI & HS) and senior managers from the Department of Public Works, Infrastructure & Human Settlements as well as Mangaung Metro.
The meeting was convened by the Hon. Premier to find sustainable solutions to the intergovernmental debt solution that led to the current situation, which prompted the municipality to disconnect services to government buildings. The meeting also reflected on the debt owed by Mangaung Metro Municipality to Free State Provincial Government’s Fleet Management.
The meeting agreed that the decision for Mangaung to disconnect water and electricity services before engaging with the leadership of the provincial government was unfortunate and regrettable. All the parties reaffirmed their commitments towards maintaining sound intergovernmental relations, and to find long-term solutions within the constrained provincial and local fiscal environment.
“We have agreed to establish a Core Team consisting of senior officials from the provincial government and Mangaung Metro to do technical work on specific areas like debt reconciliation, revenue collection, fleet management and review of funded priorities. The work done by the Core Team is expected to address short, medium and long term challenges and to find lasting solutions on the issues affecting different spheres of government. The Core Team is expected to submit a report to the leadership tomorrow, 30th May 2018”, the Director-General Ralikontsane said.
Following the meeting, Mangaung Metro restored water and electricity to the buildings concerned. The parties committed to keep open lines of communication and to ensure that the situation does not repeat itself in the future. The parties further committed to ensure that intergovernmental relations will be enhanced to ensure that service delivery is not compromised in the future.
Issued by:
Tiisetso Makhele
Cell: 076 833 0033
Tel: 051 405 5799
E-mail: tiisetso.makhele@fspremier.gov.za/makhelets@live.com
