Premier Mabuza allows municipalities to give mitigation factors
12 February 2014
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza yesterday [Tuesday, 11 February 2014] allowed the municipal managers, chief financial officers and mayors from five municipalities to give mitigation factors on why their services should not be terminated after they received the disclaimers from the audit outcomes of the Auditor-General.
Premier Mabuza had summoned the leaders of these municipalities to a special meeting following their voluntary written commitments that they should be released from duty with immediate effect if their municipalities received the disclaimers.
In yesterday’s meeting, which Mabuza attended for less than half-an-hour, before leaving the forum to have a caucus which took the whole day, he demanded to know the causes for failure at the municipalities also from the provincial government which provided maximum support.
The support had been provided by the provincial treasury, co-operative governance and traditional affairs department, and the office of the premier. He said departments needed to explain also whether they encountered challenges in providing support to the municipalities.
“We have devoted the resources and time in the municipalities; we must be able to say what worked and what did not work, if it is a matter of capacity we must say where we need to find it.
“It is my understanding that all those tasked with intervening have a story to tell. We came up with a clear plan, but coming here I do not get an indication on how we have failed. We are at crossroads, you have to stand up and explain why you have all failed or who has failed us,” said Mabuza.
The Premier said it was going to be a tough road ahead as he wanted and asked that both municipalities and the provincial department needed to do an honest assessment of the work done.
“It is not fair that the ANC is taking the blame for failing to deliver services each and every day on our behalf, people are protesting everyday complaining about genuine concerns, but it is actually you who is failing the ANC,” said Mabuza.
The leaders of the municipalities presented their mitigation factors until 21h00 at night and will know their fate in the next Cabinet meeting.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Office of the Premier
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
