Limpopo places Thabazimbi Municipality under administration

The Limpopo government has made a decision to place the troubled Thabazimbi Local Municipality under administration. The decision follows a comprehensive report presented to the Limpopo Executive Council. It highlights persistent governance and management issues within the Thabazimbi Municipality from 2022.

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The report detailed significant dysfunction within the Council, compounded by high vacancies in key management positions. These challenges have also severely impacted service provision to the residents of Thabazimbi.

“The Executive Council of Limpopo has today taken a decisive step to invoke the provisions of Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 in response to the challenges faced by Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Waterberg District,” the Limpopo government said in a statement. 

“This section empowers the provincial executive to intervene when a municipality cannot or does not fulfil its executive obligations. Including the dissolution of the Municipal Council and the appointment of an administrator until a newly elected Municipal Council is in place.”

THABAZIMBI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER ADMINISTRATION 

The Executive Council has also given the Council of Thabazimbi seven days from 15 August 2024 to respond to why it should not go ahead to implement the provisions of Section 139 (1) (c).

“Despite previous interventions by COGHSTA and Provincial Treasury, the situation has not improved. The municipality is currently operating with two separate structures claiming to be the council, further exacerbating the governance crisis,” they explained. 

“Additionally, the municipality faces substantial financial liabilities. Including a debt of over R270 million to ESKOM and ongoing legal proceedings initiated by the Magalies Water Board to recover outstanding payments of over R190 million.

“The municipality has not been able to adopt its budget for 2024/25 financial year on time and in line with the prescribed laws and regulations.”

“This intervention aims to restore governance and ensure the rule of law. Improve service provision to the residents of Thabazimbi.”