The latest report by the Auditor-General (AG) on the financial state of municipalities emphasises, among other things, the alarming extent of decay and decline of North West municipalities.
The province achieved the questionable distinction that 9 out 22 of the worst managed municipalities in the country are located in the North West. That is nearly half.
In the report, North West is also singled out as a province characterised by an unstable leadership, a lack of accountability, a general state of disorder, and very little to no service delivery. It is a disgrace.
The report, furthermore, indicates that substantive financial irregularities were identified at these municipalities.
This includes the municipalities serving the larger economic centres in the province, like Lichtenburg, Vryburg and Brits.
The mismanagement and lack of service delivery are literally snuffing out the local economies, and contribute greatly to disinvestment and unemployment.
The reasons behind this, as indicated by the report's findings, are diverse.
They include poor to no financial recordkeeping, a shortage of expert staff, no effective debt-collection systems, misappropriation and corruption, as well as a lack of strong ethical political leadership.
The FF Plus has repeatedly pointed out, both on provincial and national government level, that the situation cannot be turned around without advanced technological financial systems and competent staff.
Continuous digital financial assessment systems will limit financial irregularities and ensure proper recordkeeping and accurate audits.
North West residents have suffered at the hands of a dysfunctional ANC government and its cadres on local level, who only have their own interests at heart, for long enough now.
Communities across the province must join hands and hold their local political leaders accountable.
The people of the North West deserve better than the ANC.
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