The inaugural Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) Public Participation meetings concluded today with a session at the Intabazwe Multipurpose Hall.
On top of the agenda was the R7.8 billion unauthorised, irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure as flagged by the Auditor-General of South Africa. The amount accumulated over a period starting in the 2014/2015 financial year to the 2023/2024 financilal year.
Also under scrutiny was whether the following, among others, were received by residents as per the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:
• Service delivery in general – sewage, clean water supply, electricity supply, roads, etc.
• Application of By-laws/regulations
• Availability of fire fighting equipment and related emergency services
• Adequate municipal planning that includes storm water reticulation, public transport services, pollution, residential sites, formalisation of settlements, cemetries, parks, recreational facilities, etc.
In the main, the residents raised the following concerns, among others:
•Sewerage spillages
•Poor roads, water and electricity infrastructure
•Non-functioning water and electricity metre boxes
•Expensive recreational facilities like multipurpose halls, community parks, etc.
•Difficulties in the approval of building plans
•Refuse removal and illegal dumping
•Non-availability of municipal vehicles for service delivery
•Shortage of residential sites
•Poor municipal spatial planning
•Unreliable water and electricity supply.
“All the concerns raised will find expression in the report to the Council and it should be finalised in the next few days so that it will then be presented at the Council sitting scheduled for 20 May 2025,” said MPAC Chairperson, Cllr. Mandla Holley.
MPAC is a multiparty committee of Council made of 11 members and is responsible for ensuring all public funds are accounted for.
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