Parliament calls for urgent reform of municipal intervention frameworks

By Johnathan Paoli

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has raised alarm over the continued failure of municipal interventions to yield sustainable improvements, calling for stronger early warning systems and better coordination between government spheres.

Committee chair, Dr Zweli Mkhize, highlighted the importance of cooperative governance, stressing its success as dependent not only on laws but also on the political will and commitment of all stakeholders to collaborate and cooperate.

“We should focus on the objective. We are supposed to ensure service delivery, and we are supposed to make sure that people are accountable, that there’s consequence management, and that each one of us continues to participate and do what their powers and responsibilities are,” Mkhize said.

In a meeting held on Tuesday, the committee received a detailed briefing from the department and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to clarify the distinction between Section 139 and Section 154 interventions under the Constitution.

Section 139 allows provincial governments to intervene when a municipality fails to fulfil executive obligations, while Section 154 mandates national and provincial governments to support municipalities proactively by strengthening their capacity.

The briefing follows the introduction of the Intergovernmental Monitoring, Support and Interventions (IMSI) Bill, which aims to tighten legislative provisions around municipal interventions and address recurring weaknesses in governance, accountability, and oversight.

The Bill is expected to clarify responsibilities and improve the effectiveness of support provided to struggling municipalities.

Despite acknowledging the good intentions behind existing intervention mechanisms, committee members voiced frustration at their limited impact.

“We are deeply concerned that some municipalities have been under administration for more than a decade with no meaningful turnaround. This raises serious questions about the efficiency and sustainability of these interventions,” Mkhize said.

Members of the committee criticised the inconsistent application of interventions and