Municipal Manager fails Lekwa
PROVINCIAL – The MEC of Cogta (Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs), Ms RM Mtshweni cracked the whip on the Municipal Manager of Lekwa Municipality, Mr Linda Tshabalala, and pleaded with the Executive Mayor to assist the manager who has failed to perform his duties in terms of Section 55 of Municipal System Act.
In a Letter dated 11 May, addressed to both the Municipal Manager and the Executive Mayor, the MEC ordered the Manager to correct the transgressions and perform his duties as the administrative head to enable the Department to execute its executive and legislative functions properly and timely without hindrance. Such a duty is not a favour but a legislative duty imposed on him as the Municipal Manager.
According to the letter the Municipal Manager failed to implement the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and failed to monitor the progress thereof. The Manager’s attention is drawn to the provisions of Section 35(1) (a) (b) and (c) on the status of an IDP, which are (a) principal strategic planning, (b) binds the municipality, (c) binds all other persons.
Records illustrate inconsistencies, inaccuracies and non-reliability of the information provided to make any useful assessment of progress towards addressing the water and sanitation backlog within the municipality. It further illustrates a complete lack of information review and updates of housing plans, township establishments, including informal settlements. The recording of water backlogs illustrates lack of understanding and knowledge of the actual number of households without access to water and sanitation in various wards of the municipality.
It can be deduced from consistent failures to provide required data that the municipality is not enforcing performance and consequent management since this incident has been a repeat occurrence on various occasions.
As the Administrative Head of the municipality, he was criticised and chastised for not performing his task of holding the managers directly accountable to do their work properly and, as a result, they fail to report correctly and properly.
The Municipality has failed on various occasions to provide timely, accurate, and well prepared reports. This has resulted in the department being unable to report timely to various committees of the Legislature. DM