By Thapelo Molefe
Parliament’s joint oversight delegation has sounded the alarm over what it described as “deeply troubling” dysfunction at the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in North West, urging urgent intervention to restore governance and basic services.
The delegation — made up of members from the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General — visited the municipality on Monday as part of a wider probe into underperforming municipalities. The North West Provincial Legislature also joined the oversight visit.
During the engagement, the mayor, speaker, municipal manager and chief financial officer conceded to years of instability, unfunded budgets and severe financial distress, including more than R94 million owed to Eskom.
Residents have repeatedly taken to the streets in protest, mainly over persistent water shortages.
The municipality’s work has also been crippled by political infighting, alleged unlawful council meetings, intimidation and even a shooting incident at the municipal offices.
Delegation leader Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Tuesday that the situation was unacceptable.
“The people of the North West are being denied basic services because of criminality and political dysfunction. We cannot accept a situation where a municipal manager is unable to access his office while outsiders occupy municipal property,” he said.
Members expressed concern that criminal elements may have infiltrated the municipality, citing allegations of illegal appointments, financial mismanagement and unauthorised meetings. They insisted that leaders at the municipality must be held accountable.
“The paralysis cannot be tolerated any longer,” Mkhize stressed.
While acknowledging some progress in stabilising finances, MPs and MPLs warned that governance collapse and political interference continue to undermine service delivery.
They criticised Premier Lazarus Mokgosi for failing to act decisively, saying delays from his office have worsened the crisis and left communities without water, electricity, and other essential services.
The delegation reminded the provincial government of its constitutional duty to intervene when municipalities fail, insisting on concrete timelines, measurable targets, and clear action plans rather than “general commitments.”
Premier Mokgosi and his cabinet were instructed to return on Tuesday with a comprehensive plan to restore governance and service delivery in the municipality.
“We owe it to the people of Ramotshere, to the people of the North West, and to South Africa as a whole,” Mkhize said.
“We cannot condone this paralysis, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
The joint delegation is expected to continue engagements with other struggling municipalities in the province throughout the week.
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