The Madibeng municipality has received repeated disclaimed audit opinions for seven years. Its ‘performance’ was only rivalled by Joe Morolong municipality in the Northern Cape.
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke said municipalities with repeated disclaimed audits cannot determine what has been spent because funds cannot be accounted for. “It is uncertain whether these municipalities will be able to continue providing services in the near future. Fraudulent activities could go undetected, and funds meant for service delivery could be misappropriated without being detected.”
She said Madibeng paid information technology companies R34 million without any documents (such as delivery notes or invoices signed by delegated officials) to support these payments. “We are considering material irregularities on these matters.”
Madibeng also had unauthorised debit orders and duplicate payments totalling R22 million and R5 million, respectively.
As an example of infrastructure neglect and its impact, the AG said her office had notified the municipal manager of Madibeng Local Municipality of material irregularities at the Mothotlung and Lethabile sites due to pollution stemming from the wastewater treatment works. “The municipality has not taken reasonable measures to minimise the pollution or rectify the situation since our notification. This means that sewage inflows continue to be discharged without being treated, making drinking water unsafe as harmful wastewater is disposed of into the water sources.”
She also mentioned Madibeng’s Klipgat sanitation project. She said the lack of adequate planning and monitoring of the implementation of the Klipgat sanitation project in Madibeng Local Municipality resulted in a 12-month delay from the original completion date. “This had a negative impact on the municipality’s ability to provide an adequate sewerage system meant to improve the hygiene, health and living environment of residents.”
“For years local government has been characterised by deteriorating standards of living, service delivery failures, dysfunctional municipalities, council and administrative instability, financial mismanagement, service delivery protests and crumbling municipal infrastructure. Citizens continue to express their dissatisfaction and frustration through the media and other platforms, calling for urgent attention to address their plight.”