Administration extension – An ANC delay tactic?

Administration extension – An ANC delay tactic?

The DA takes note of the decision by the Premier to extend the administration in the Bushbuckridge and Emalahleni Local Municipalities.

What is questionable is that the Executive Council of Mpumalanga has indicated that they are pleased with the progress made in the municipalities, despite the fact that they admit there are still leadership and administrative matters to be resolved, before interventions lifted.

It is clear that the turnaround strategies for these municipalities are not working. We have witnessed very little improvement in service delivery and management of these municipalities under the guide of the administrators.

At the same time, the provincial government cannot extend the administrator term infinitely as the duly elected leadership of those councils must given the responsibility of running the municipality.

During the period of administration, the administrator reports directly to the MEC and the executive powers of the elected leadership are suspended. It is a known fact that the ANC extremely divided in both these municipalities and the MEC cannot use the extension of the term for administrators to buy time while the ANC tries to sort out its internal political mess.

Voters must bear the consequences of their vote.  The DA calls on the MEC to announce a sunset date for the administrations, not only to table a progress report on the Section 139 intervention in the Provincial Legislature, but to put in place an exit strategy for each of the administrators.