COGTA Committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize has lambasted the deepening governance and financial crises in South African municipalities.
Speaking at a committee briefing, Mkhize cited widespread failures in financial management, leadership, and service delivery. He called for urgent and coordinated action across all tiers of government.
Describing local government as “under immense strain,” Mkhize referenced the Auditor-General’s 2023/24 report, which found that 59% of municipal financial statements contained material misstatements - despite more than R1.4 billion being spent on consultants.
“It’s unacceptable that such exorbitant spending yields so little value,” Mkhize said, noting that municipalities already employ permanent staff for this work.
He revealed that 113 municipalities are operating with unfunded budgets. “This amounts to planning for failure. It undermines infrastructure delivery, leads to poor project execution, delays, cost overruns, and often substandard workmanship,” he said.
Only 16% of municipalities met basic governance standards, while 84% failed to meet the conditions of a national debt relief programme.
“This is not just an audit report. It’s a mirror held up to our governance structures,” Mkhize said, blaming poor audit outcomes on political failures, lack of accountability, and a growing culture of impunity.
He criticised the continued use of uncompetitive procurement practices and illegal awarding of contracts to government employees:
“The rules exist, but enforcement is failing. This must stop.”
Mkhize announced that Parliament will intensify oversight, especially in the worst-performing municipalities.
“The community is no longer interested in excuses,” he said. “We are calling for performance, consequences, and the prioritisation of quality service delivery.”
Mkhize also highlighted the need for structural reform over crisis management:
“We cannot afford to normalise failure. We must shift from analysis to action, from recognition to consequence.”
Mkhize noted that the Portfolio Committee on COGTA will continue to lead efforts to restore the credibility, capability and constitutional purpose of local government through firm oversight and unwavering commitment to service delivery.
In a statement and response to the 2023/2024 audit outcomes, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) welcomed the Auditor-General’s report and praised municipalities showing improvement.
Salga spokesperson Tebogo Mosala said: “The increase in clean audits from 34 in 2022/23 to 41 in 2023/24 is commendable and reflects the commitment of municipal leadership to uphold financial discipline.”
SALGA noted that 55% of municipalities received unqualified or clean audits, accounting for over R378 billion (66%) of the local government budget, an indication that a majority of public funds are handled with “a degree of accountability.”
However, Mosala was clear that serious problems remain: “Salga remains deeply concerned that 45% of municipalities received audit outcomes that fall below the standard. The non-submission of financial statements and recurrence of fruitless and wasteful expenditure must be decisively addressed.”
Salga echoed the call for stronger leadership, highlighting that improved audit outcomes correlate with capable and ethical appointments in key roles like municipal managers and CFOs. Mosala added that municipalities must also address the R405 billion owed to them by consumers, including other government departments, which severely compromises their financial health.
Salga also stressed the need to reform the fiscal framework, pointing out the mismatch between municipalities’ responsibilities and the only 9.1% of nationally raised revenue they receive.
Adding to the concern, Matthew George, ActionSA’s Parliamentary Head of Media, criticised the chronic over-reliance on external consultants:
“ActionSA has consistently expressed our opposition to the widespread use of external consultants to perform functions that should be carried out by professionals employed within municipalities. The continued reliance on such consultants is a damning indictment of the failure to build and retain internal capacity in local government.”
George argued that the solution is already available through existing frameworks:
“The solution is clear: the employment of skilled financial administrators, as already provided for in existing frameworks, and an end to the appointment of unqualified and unscrupulous individuals. These appointments often serve only to obscure financial reporting and shield financial mismanagement from proper scrutiny.”
While supporting legislative and oversight reform, George emphasised enforcement as the real missing link:
“While ActionSA recognises the potential value of legislative or oversight reforms, we believe that the greater issue lies in the lack of enforcement of existing mechanisms, which for too long have been treated as suggestive rather than obligatory.”
He added that ActionSA is committed to pursuing legislation on consequence management, along with further measures aimed at professionalising and depoliticising the public service.
Dr Harlan Cloete, Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State, provided deeper insight into the systemic nature of the crisis.
On municipalities’ reliance on consultants, Cloete said:“There’s a genuine crisis of confidence within municipalities. You have people in positions who are not necessarily qualified. Political instability spills over into the administration, creating more dysfunction. There's a lack of both capacity and capability.”
He noted that despite the Skills Development Act being in place since 1998, municipalities have failed to cultivate talent from within.
“That we cannot grow our own is really an indictment on the system.”
On building internal capacity, Cloete pointed to integrated development plans (IDPs) and workplace skills plans as existing tools.
“You have to start with what you have. I’ve seen people move from interns to CFOs through structured internal development. The frameworks are there,the problem is execution.”
Cloete stressed that training alone is not enough:“Training is often seen as the beginning and end. But what’s needed is coaching, mentoring, and long-term institutional development.”
He warned of the consequences for sustainability and credibility:“You cannot outsource responsibility. It's easy to bring in consultants to solve short-term problems, but the Skills Development Act calls for a long-term view. Leadership matters. Where there’s a committed CFO, municipal manager, or mayor, things can turn around.”
Cloete also referenced his recent research into the Municipal Staff Regulations of 2021.
“We conducted 240 interviews across 32 municipalities. These regulations aim to professionalise local government. But many municipalities aren’t listening or acting. There’s little consequence management.”
He noted the review of the White Paper on Local Government, but added: “It identifies nine key challenges. What’s missing is the tenth: the institutional ability to manage the development of people. We have good people, but they don’t get the opportunities. This lack is what perpetuates the dependency on consultants.
*This article was first published by IOL News
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed that no fatalities occurred during the 2025 edition of the race held on Sunday.
The CMA's assertion follows distressing reports circulating across various digital media outlets, suggesting that two runners had died during the event.
Alain Dalais, General Manager of the CMA, stated unequivocally that the marathon was conducted without any recorded deaths.
"As can be expected from an event of this nature and size, there were some cases of runners being transferred to the hospital from the route for various medical reasons," Dalais explained.
"However, our medical, emergency, safety, and health protocols are excellent and focused on the safety of all runners."
The CMA takes the dissemination of false information seriously and has urged the community to exercise caution when discussing the event's outcomes.
"The CMA distances itself from any fake news or rumours doing the rounds," he continued.
"We strongly recommend that our community relies on reputable sources for information, beginning with our own official channels," he said.
The CMA takes the dissemination of false information seriously and has urged the community to exercise caution when discussing the event's outcomes.
"The CMA distances itself from any fake news or rumours doing the rounds," he continued.
"We strongly recommend that our community relies on reputable sources for information, beginning with our own official channels," he said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Written by: Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae
On 1 June 2025, I watched Keabetswe Mongale grieving the loss of her one and only daughter Olorato. Many of us did.
I gritted my teeth and gulped down water given to me to keep from completely breaking down. In Poppynyana, as we often refer to Keabetswe, I saw myself. I saw a woman consumed by unimaginable grief and loss. I saw a mother, a loving mother, who longed to embrace her daughter whose mortal remains laid in a pure white casket surrounded by illuminating candles. I saw pain.
I listened, with a broken heart, to Olorato’s loving grandmother, who spoke about her granddaughter’s murderers. “Ke lomeleditswe ke basimanyana bangwe (I was dealt a blow by some boys)” she bemoaned.
The unnecessary death of Olorato dealt all of us a devastating blow, more so her mother, Keabetswe. This cruel killing was a painful reminder of the magnitude of the task before us to put an end to Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
Imagine the disgust I felt when days after we laid Olorato to rest, disgusting social media posts about her grieving mother Keabetswe and her supposed involvement in her daughter’s tragic death. The posts were insensitive, cruel and distasteful. They were a disgusting desperate attempt at relevance on social media.
They revealed more about the people who posted them…these are empty, broken shells who derive joy from the misery of others. These people need help. What is worrying is that more of these people are gaining traction and have a large following on social media.
People must learn to allow grieving families time and space to mourn their loved ones.
During the recent deaths of three police officers, Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys and Boipelo Senoge, social media ‘detectives’ went on overdrive, coming up with theories about what lead to the deaths of the officers.This is grossly irresponsible and denies the grief stricken families an opportunity to heal. All because of a desperate need for social media comments and likes. We can do better Ma-Afrika.
My appeal to you all is to use social media in a positive way. There are plenty of opportunities, both from public and private sector, being advertised on social media each and every single day.
This Youth Month, I appeal to young people to channel that energy into doing good. The social media that is often used to peddle disinformation can also be used as a powerful tool to empower the youth.
Let us not waste time on destructive conduct while we could be doing more to empower ourselves and others.
Government has never been shy to admit to the challenges that it is faced with. We have owned up to our shortcomings. We have also pledged to double our efforts to create employment opportunities for the people of the Free State, particularly the youth.
We want to travel this journey with you.
However, making wild accusations about devastated mothers, days after they bury their children, will do nothing but delay progress.
The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation(DSACR), led by MEC Ntombizanele Sifuba, will launch the 2025 Choral, Clap and Tap Festival.
The session will take place, on Friday 13th June at PACOFS in Bloemfontein.
The launch of this Festival a Provincial Flagship Programme planned to be rolled out over a 3-year period, is set to coincide with the Youth Month as its focus is on providing young people with opportuni9es for exposure of their talent and related economic gains.
It is a multifaced arts and culture programme, whose purpose is to iden9fy talent, nourish it and develop plaTorms for such to be showcased in the highest standard for various diverse audiences and markets, whilst capacitating numerous youth segments with skills sets that ensure that there is creation of sustainable jobs within our communi9es. The object is to discover or iden9fy talent, develop or nourish it, and ensure that it is put on plaTorms where it can be showcased for bigger markets and audiences.
The entire programme will be covering each and every municipality of the Free State province. The initiative itself will bring huge local economic spin-offs and will deliver more direct jobs within the arts sector. The biggest beneficiaries for such jobs will be youth, women and people living with disabilities.
Sifuba, will officially unveil the Festival and provide an overview of the key events.
The National Prosecuting Authority released a media statement confirming that "Sibusiso Ncengwa was convicted of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Magaqa, former Secretary General of the ANC Youth League, was shot in July 2017 and succumbed to his injuries after spending time in hospital. Sentencing proceedings will commence on 30 June 2025 at the Pietermaritzburg High Court."
The NPA's aggressive stance in prosecuting violent crimes has yielded results, demonstrating its commitment to justice and accountability.
Abigail Visagie
The 42-year-old police sergeant arrested in connection with the kidnapping case of 19 year old Kamogelo Baukudi briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court and remains in custody. Brigadier Sam Makhele mentioned that the suspect’s name cannot be revealed as ordered by the court at the request of the investigating team.
The case has been postponed to June 13 for bail information and further investigation. Provincial Commissioner of the Police in the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, has reiterated the SAPS’s unwavering commitment to uncovering the full truth behind this heinous crime. Kamogelo Baukudi was kidnapped earlier this month and remains missing. It is alleged that the suspect demanded a ransom from the family, but the amount of money demanded has not been disclosed to the public. This is a developing story…
