The DA in Thaba Chweu is pleased to note that the cash strapped municipality will not fund this year’s sports games scheduled to take place in North-West between the 3rd and 8th of May.
Last month, during a Corporate Service Portfolio meeting, it came to light that the municipality was considering paying R440 000 for employees to participate in these games.
Once again, the DA objected to this on the basis that Section 10(5) of the Municipal Cost Containment Regulations indicates that the accounting officers in municipalities that are under financial distress must ensure that social events, team building exercises, year-end functions, sporting events and budget vote dinners are not financed from the municipality or the municipal entity’s budgets or by any suppliers or sponsors.
As a result, the municipality decided to reconsider and has now resolved that all costs and expenses relating to these games must be incurred by individual participants in line with the Cost Containment Policy.
This is a step in the right direction considering that service delivery is at its lowest in Thaba Chweu and even more concerning the municipality keeps on defaulting on its creditors.
It must be noted that the DA is not against the idea of municipal employees taking part in wellness and sports programs. However, the municipality should be in a stable financial position when taking part in such programs, as per Treasury specifications.
Thaba Chweu is notorious for contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Several projects that are meant to accelerate service delivery are delayed. Overall, the municipality is failing to attract investors and stimulate the local economy. We will closely monitor this and ensure that this resolution is upheld.
The DA will continue to push for accountability, transparent financial management, and sound governance reforms that place Thaba Chweu Local Municipality on a path toward sustainability and reliable service delivery.