The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has written to both the MECs for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA), Nompumelelo Hlophe; and Thulasizwe Thomo of Public Works, to express serious concern over the outstanding debt owed by their respective departments to the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
According to a report presented to the Bushbuckridge Council recently, the municipality is owed a staggering R1 billion in unpaid municipal accounts; with DARDLEA responsible for R287 million, and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport owing R645 million.
The DA strongly condemns this failure to settle municipal debt, which has compromised the municipality’s ability to deliver essential services, particularly water and road maintenance, leaving residents of Bushbuckridge to suffer under dire living conditions.
The DA has called for immediate action to address this crisis, including:
- Immediate engagement between the departments and the municipality to develop a sustainable Debt Repayment Plan;
- Consistent and timeous payment of all future municipal accounts to prevent further debt accumulation; and
- A comprehensive written explanation from the departments outlining the reasons for non-payment, and remedial steps being taken to resolve this financial neglect.
The DA cannot allow the people of Bushbuckridge to suffer due to the fiscal irresponsibility of provincial departments. We will continue to hold the government accountable and demand urgent action to resolve this crisis in the best interest of the residents.
The DA will further escalate the matter to the Office of the Premier, Mandla Ndlovu, and to the office of the Auditor-General of South Africa, including the Provincial Treasury to ensure full transparency, accountability, and urgent resolution of this crisis.