Minister Hlabisa Leads Cabinet-led Intervention to Stabilise Ditsobotla Local Municipality скачать в хорошем качестве

Minister Hlabisa Leads Cabinet-led Intervention to Stabilise Ditsobotla Local Municipality

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa has today visited Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West Province to deliver in person the decision of national cabinet. The visit of the of the Minister follows a Cabinet approval of the invocation of Section 139(7) of the Constitution, placing the municipality under national intervention on the 3rd September 2025. This historic decision follows years of persistent governance failures, financial mismanagement, and service delivery collapse that have negatively affected residents. Addressing councilors, officials, and community representatives in Ditsobotla, Minister Hlabisa emphasised that the intervention is “not merely about taking power away, but about restoring credibility, functionality, and trust in this municipality.” The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to restoring the dignity of the people of Ditsobotla by ensuring effective service delivery in the Ditsobotla Local. Minister emphasised the need to stabilise the municipality and ensure it has credibility in the eyes of the residents who are the rightful beneficiaries of the services from the municipality. The intervention marks a critical turning point, with Cabinet appointing a National Cabinet Representative (NCR), Mr Kopung Ralikontsane, supported by a multidisciplinary intervention team. The team will include engineers, planners, governance specialists, and financial experts who will work alongside the municipality to implement a comprehensive recovery strategy. Among the key measures announced are: • Implementation of a Financial Recovery Plan developed with National Treasury. • Deployment of technical and governance support through MISA and other national partners. • Establishment of a Joint Operations Task Team with SAPS, SSA, DOJ, and NPA to investigate corruption, maladministration, and irregular appointments. • Institutional reforms to address political instability, irregular staff appointments, and governance dysfunctionality. • Strict financial controls, with the NCR assuming oversight of all municipal accounts and procurement processes. Minister Hlabisa was clear that this intervention will succeed only through cooperation - "We can only turn things around if councillors, officials, and communities pull together in one direction. This is about rebuilding Ditsobotla into a municipality that serves its people with dignity, efficiency, and integrity.” The Minister then unpacked the terms of reference and immediate steps to be undertaken. The intervention was also welcomed by Provincial Government and the various political parties who were represented in the Ditsobotla Council. They pledge to support the work of the multidisciplinary intervention team for the benefit of communities in Ditsobotla.