North West municipalities’ dysfunction is worse than previously thought
Out of 22 municipalities visited, 20 had qualified audit opinions in 2016-17, and had widespread corruption‚ appointed incompetent officials‚ with a lack of consequence management
The national government had no choice but to intervene in the North West after now-removed premier Supra Mahumapelo’s office failed to prevent a strike that led to chaotic protests. Protesters looted shops and burnt down property across the province, and forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to cut short a trip to the UK to quell the unrest. The inter-ministerial team established to investigate the problems in the North West in April has put some of the blame at Mahumapelo’s door‚ saying his office had failed to communicate effectively with the unions. "It was the absence of the engagement that probably led to the situation as we saw it‚" said Mpumi Mpofu‚ the director-general of the department of planning‚ monitoring and evaluation. Mpofu is part of the technical team that works with the inter-ministerial team. The Office of the Premier‚ which is among the departments placed under the administration of the national government‚ is responsible for the central management of the administrat...
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