(Debate on the North West Premier’s opening address for 2022)
Today, in response to the provincial opening address by the Premier of the North West, Bushy Maape, the FF Plus offered concrete solutions to improve political stability and service delivery in the province.
The party also pointed out that the North West is still under Section-100 administration, which is effectively paralysing the provincial government.
In terms of this administration, the Premier and his provincial government's powers are so restricted that they have almost no executive capacity.
All governing decisions must first be approved by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). The Section-100 administration must be lifted because after several years it has still not delivered any positive results and is, instead, undermining accountable governance in the province.
The FF Plus, furthermore, also pointed out that many municipalities, like Ditsabotla (Lichtenburg, Coligny and Bakerville), Mamusa (Schweizer-Reneke and Amalia) and Maquassi Hills (Wolmaransstad, Makwassie, Leeudoringstad and Witpoort), are still affected by political instability, which causes chaos in these municipalities.
For example, in Maquassi Hills, there are currently two municipal managers, each appointed by a different ANC faction. Likewise, Mamusa also has two municipal managers and two chief financial officers. The result of this chaotic state of affairs is that service delivery has collapsed, which is causing social unrest.
The FF Plus's proposals for ensuring political stability and effective service delivery include, among other things, the following:
• In the first place, the ANC must accept responsibility for the conduct of its deployed cadres and take steps to stop the party's infighting from disrupting the governance of North West any further.
Ongoing ANC infighting, furthermore, results in the wasting of scarce resources because the provincial government frequently has to step in to keep basic service delivery going, at great expense.
• Secondly, the provincial government must prioritise the protection of infrastructure. Provincial and local infrastructure, like power cables and substations, are constantly looted and vandalised by criminals. It is absolutely vital that the authorities and all stakeholders combat this evil in a coordinated effort.
• Thirdly, accountability must be restored on the local government level through decentralisation and devolving powers to towns in the province. Constantly placing municipalities under Section-139 administration has thus far not delivered any positive results and has apparently only created new channels for corruption.
The Auditor-General's (AG) annual audit reports repeatedly highlight the lack of proper record keeping as well as the consequent corruption and maladministration at municipalities in the North West. It is vital to intervene and ensure that municipalities invest in proper bookkeeping software, control systems and competent officials.
The solutions to the North West's most pressing problems are quite simple and straightforward. It seems, however, that the ANC government lacks the political will to put the interests of the North West and its people first.
The FF Plus will continue to apply pressure as well as point out and address shortcomings in local government for the benefit of the province and its people.
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