North West Legislature SCOPA Urges Ditsobotla Local Municipality to Investigate Unauthorised Payments outside the Municipal Finance System

The North West Provincial Legislature Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts has urged Ditsobotla Local Municipality to investigate unauthorised payments from the municipal finance system and bank accounts. This follows a Municipal Finance Management Act public hearing where the municipality was invited to account on the non-submission of annual financial systems for audit purposes of 2022/23 financial year.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs led by H.O.D Dr. Ben Bole and Provincial Treasury also presented reports on the support given to the municipality. During the presentations by the municipality, Councillors informed the Provincial Public Accounts Committee that there has been withdraws and payments of monies from the municipal banking account without any services rendered or following proper supply chain management system procedures, and laws and regulations.

Hon. Matshe said it is worrying that there has been systematic looting of the municipal finances as alluded by the Councillors who have not been playing any oversight on the municipality. “Although we are happy that the municipality appointed a new municipal manager named Mr. Olaotswe Bojosinyane, we urge him and the mandatory financial recovery team to investigate the matter of coordinated syphoning of the municipal funds without any services rendered. We have also directed the municipality and both departments to ensure that all individuals who were appointed Acting Municipal Managers for the period January 2023 to June 2024 submit reports on how they prepared the municipality for the 2022/23 audit season,” said Hon. Matshe.

Dr. Ben Bole informed the Committee that the municipality has been unstable since 2021 and dissolution of municipal council in October 2022 affected administration. “After the newly constituted municipal council failed to meet its constitutional mandates, the provincial government then placed the municipality under mandatory intervention as prescribed by Section 139(5)(a) and (c). The Executive Council deployed Provincial Executive Representatives and Technical Experts in September 2023 to September 2025. It is currently led by Mr. Sakie Mutshinyali and Mr. Katlego Gabanakgosi dealing with governance and financial management; legal services, monitoring and evaluation; human resource; service delivery and security services,” said Dr. Bole

Hon. Matshe said the Committee believes that the intervention team can revive the municipality and improve service delivery. “They should immediately submit a progress report on the work done as we believe that it will solve challenges at the municipality. We also need a report on the review of contracts of different service providers that are a burden to the municipality; report on the staff complement and all the service delivery and oversight activities conducted by Councils since their election,” said Hon. Matshe.

He also said both the Provincial Treasury and the Cooperative Governance should submit the financial recovery plan with timelines and qualifications and profiles of provincial experts representatives.

For media enquiries or to arrange interviews with the Chairperson of the Committee contact Namhla Luhabe on 079 527 0628.

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Issued by: North West Provincial Legislature: Media & Communications Unit on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts – Hon. Smuts Matshe.