The latest Auditor-General (AG) report on local government audit outcomes details the dire state of South Africa's 257 municipalities, with just 34 receiving clean audits.
One of those was Midvaal, about an hour south of Johannesburg. It's a small municipality with a population of about 125,000 and 38,000 registered households.
Across the fence is the neighbouring municipality of Emfuleni, with a population of close to one million. It is, by most measures, one of the worst-run in the country, with litter tossed onto any available piece of land and sewage seeping onto the streets.
It's frequently in the news, usually for all the wrong reasons, not least because it owes Eskom close to R6 billion; Midvaal owes Eskom nothing.
Earlier this year, Ratings Afrika declared Midvaal and Mossel Bay the country's best-run municipalities, based on a scoring system that rewards operating performance, debt and liquidity management, affordability of living, budget practices and infrastructure development.
Midvaal was the only municipality in Gauteng to win a clean audit from the AG.
"We commend Midvaal Local Municipality for sustaining its clean audit for 10 consecutive years," says the AG's latest report on local government audit outcomes.
Emfuleni, on the other hand, "is in a concerning financial position". It begs the question: what does Midvaal do that Emfuleni doesn't?
It turns out just about everything. Midvaal is run by the Democratic Alliance (as are all the top 10 municipalities in SA), while Emfuleni is ANC-run.
“In the bin,” comes the reply. There’s little to no tolerance for either litter or land invasions. Nor for illegal electrical or water connections.
This story is from the September 10, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 10, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'Musica' headed for SA
Cruising is just lekker. There is no other word or phrase that would really do it justice, hyperbole aside.
Museum of military history
Symbolic home of soldiers and veterans worldwide
Camping ain’t for sissies
It enriches, yes, but sometimes leaves you poorer
Boks are fully loaded
ERASMUS: NOT SCARED TO FLIP BACK TO HIS 7-1 BOMB SQUAD BENCH SPLIT
India draw first blood
Turning out against the global champions for the first time since they were edged in their memorable battle in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, the Proteas stumbled again last night as they were completely demolished by India in the first of four T20 Internationals in Durban.
Make-or-break for Bok five
The Springboks get down to business tomorrow in their opening game of their end-of-year-tour against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and they will be gunning to get off to the best possible start. They will be eager to cap a magnificent year with a clean sweep on their tour to the UK. Ross Roche looks at a quintet of players that will be eager to seize their chance to impress on tour.
Some game-changing boxes still left for coach Rassie to tick
The Springboks take on Scotland, England and Wales over the next three weekends in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff respectively.
Jones wary of Dupont 'threat'
Evolving France face Eddie Jones' struggling Japan in the a November international today with superstar Antoine Dupont (above) making his first 15-a-side appearance for the hosts in more than a year.
Drafting Suaalii was never a risk
WALLABIES: FACING ENGLAND IS A HUGE 'OPPORTUNITY'
'Rusty' Azzurri not bothering Quesada
Gonzalo Quesada expects his Italy team to be ring rusty when they take on his home nation Argentina in the Azzurri's opening November Test match today, hoping to end a positive year on a high.
