Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by CJ Steyl MPL.
The DA in North West today launches a petition in support of our call to place the Ditsobotla Local Municipality under Section 139(7) national administration. See the petition here: https://petitions.da.org.za/p/put-ditsobotla-under-administration
We formally wrote to the National Minister of Cooperative Governance, Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, on 10 January 2025, requesting that the national government place the Ditsobotla Local Municipality under Section 139(7) national administration to restore service delivery and good governance.
Since our letter, Ditsobotla residents have had no respite from the endless frustration brought about by extended water and electricity supply disruptions. After the heavy rains, there are more potholes than road left, and refuse collection remains erratic.
The Ditsobotla Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Rasupang Mooketsi, issued a notice this week that the municipality would again be unable to pay salaries at the end of February 2025.
If there is no money to pay salaries, then there is no money to purchase parts, tools, and other goods to deliver services and repair and maintain infrastructure. The municipality has a budget deficit of R171 million and owes Eskom more than R1.2 billion.
Ditsobotla has collapsed.
It is only through a National Government intervention under Section 139(7) that Ditsobotla can be stabilised to ensure infrastructure maintenance is conducted and quality basic services are delivered.
The DA’s request to the National Government includes:
- A fully funded financial recovery plan administered by National Treasury;
- An independent financial forensic audit;
- An independent skills audit of all management;
- Lifestyle audits of all elected political office bearers and municipal management;
- Disciplinary action to remove compromised politicians and municipal officials from office and prosecution of all individuals complicit in criminal activity;
- The recruitment of skilled, qualified, and experienced officials through a fair and transparent process without any political influence;
- The Asset Forfeiture Unit to recover all losses identified in the forensic audit.
We ask all Ditsobotla residents to sign the DA’s petition, and we will make sure that their voices are heard inside the Union Buildings.