During the Ordinary Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, 30 October at Mbombela, Exco acknowledged the constitutional obligation by the provincial and national government to support municipalities as enshrined in Section 154.
According to Mpumalanga Provincial Government Spokesperson Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni, EXCO resolved to invoke Section 106 (1) (b) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 to three Municipalities to give effect to the support.
The municipalities are: Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality; Govan Mbeki Local Municipality; and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality.
The Act states: If an MEC has reason to believe that a municipality in the province cannot or does not fulfill a statutory obligation binding on that municipality or that maladministration, fraud, corruption or any other serious malpractice has occurred or is occurring in a municipality in the province.
If the MEC considers it necessary, designate a person or persons to investigate the matter.
As such the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has been assigned to institute the investigations.
The investigations are expected to conclude within sixty (60) days.