By Nkhensani Chauke
The Gauteng provincial government will implement a Government Debt Reduction Strategy to facilitate the collection of outstanding debt from provincial departments on behalf of municipalities.
This is according to Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who delivered the State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Mamelodi, Tshwane, on Monday night.
Lesufie called on provincial government departments to settle their debts to municipalities.
“We have committed to ensuring that no provincial government department owes municipalities,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi also spoke about the improvements in municipal financial management, noting that six municipalities received unqualified audit opinions, while two achieved clean audits for the 2023/24 financial year.
“We are particularly pleased with the West Rand District Municipality for moving from an unqualified audit opinion in the 2022/23 financial year to a clean audit in the 2023/24 financial year. We will continue to support the three that received qualified audit opinions,” said Lesufi.
“Furthermore, the local municipalities of Mogale City and Merafong saw an improvement in their audit outcomes in the financial year under review. Once more, Midvaal Municipality continues to be our shining star,” he said
In February, COGTA officials briefed the parliamentary committee on their initiatives.
COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, Deputy Minister Namane Masemola, and Prince Burns-Ncamashe led the update.
They outlined plans to implement a Municipal Performance Turnaround Strategy for struggling municipalities.
They also introduced policy and legislative measures to strengthen local government.
Lesufi, on the other hand, stressed the importance of a well-functioning municipal system, adding that effective governance and cooperation are key to economic and social development.
“In the August 2024 State of the Province Address, we committed to promoting inter-governmental relations and regional collaboration consistent with the District Development Model. We pleased to announce that all Executive Mayors are now attending intergovernmental forums,” said Lesufi.
“In this regard, we convened a local government turnaround summit in October 2024. The summit adopted a broad programme of action to resolve issues related to municipal governance, finances, infrastructure and service delivery challenges. A second round of this Summit with Executive Mayors will be held later this year.”
Ayanda Allie, a Build One South Africa (BOSA) member in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, criticised Lesufi’s upcoming State of the Province Address (SOPA).
“Come 2025, and Premier Lesufi’s government continues to overpromise and under deliver, leaving millions of Gauteng residents frustrated and without the services they were promised,” she said.
The Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in Gauteng described the address as nothing more than a shallow promise-filled speech, lacking concrete action plans and clear deadlines.
“The people of Gauteng must continue rejecting a government that continuously fails them. Every year, the ANC government presents grand plans, but the reality remains the same- no electricity, no water, no safety, and no future for the youth,” EFF said.
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