By Johnathan Paoli
Cabinet has moved to restore stability in the troubled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West by placing it under administration in terms of Section 139(7) of the Constitution.
The decision follows years of political instability, financial mismanagement, and collapsing public services.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced the intervention on Friday during a post-Cabinet briefing, describing it as a decisive step to address the municipality’s persistent governance and service delivery crises.
“To restore stability in the municipality, the Cabinet has approved that Ditsobotla be placed under administration in terms of section 139 (7) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. This intervention is done in accordance with the Municipal Finance Management Act of 2003,” the minister said.
The intervention is also in accordance with the Municipal Finance Management, which empowers the national executive to assume the powers and functions ordinarily exercised by the provincial executive in such circumstances.
Ditsobotla Local Municipality has long struggled with governance issues.
In 2022, the municipality was dissolved due to persistent political infighting and poor governance, leading to fresh council elections.
However, the situation did not improve, and in October 2023, the court ordered the council be placed under provincial intervention.
Despite these efforts, the municipality continued to experience financial mismanagement and service delivery failures.
To restore stability, the Cabinet has approved the implementation of a comprehensive Recovery Plan.
Both the Presidency and the National Treasury will jointly oversee the plan, which aims to stabilise the municipality’s financial and administrative functions.
Additionally, the Presidency will coordinate inter-governmental relations structures to facilitate the restoration of administrative functions and assist the municipality in fulfilling its legislative mandate.
A Joint Operations Task Team will also focus on addressing criminal activities that have besieged the municipality.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the national intervention, stating that it aligns with their previous recommendations for a Section 139(7) intervention.
The DA had previously called for a fully funded financial recovery plan administered by the National Treasury, an independent financial forensic audit, and disciplinary action against compromised officials.
The organisation had demanded that the national executive take over public administration and service delivery in the area.
The national intervention at Ditsobotla Local Municipality marks a significant step in addressing the systemic issues that have plagued the municipality for years.
Ntshavheni confirmed that the success of the Recovery Plan will depend on effective coordination between national, provincial, and local authorities, as well as the active involvement of civil society organizations and the private sector.
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