MLM takes MPAC Public Hearing to Maseleseleng Village

Maseleseleng

The Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) has on Friday 29 September, taken its 4th quarter public hearing performance report to Maseleseleng communities in Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality (MLM) Ward 23.

MPAC is responsible for playing a watchdog role and oversight on public finances and ensuring compliance on policies.

Legislated under section 17 (a) and Section 20 (a) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act No 32 of 2000, the hearings interrogated  the Executive Committee, led by MLM Mayor, Cllr Minah Bahula and the administration led by the Municipal Manager Ronald Moganedi, on some of the matters and concerns pertaining to service delivery, in particular on the 4th quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year and on whether the administrative arm responds appropriately and effectively to matters emphasised and flagged by the Auditor General.

The municipality was given an Unqualified Audit opinion outcome from the same body last year and is on course to claim its first clean card of administration, a commitment by Mayor Bahula on numerous public occasions.

Responding to the MPAC service delivery questions, in particular, on the issue of the decline in revenue collection in the previous financial year, the mayor bemoaned on the reluctance and non- payment of property rates by some of the high capacity businesses, residing within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

This phenomenon, the mayor said hampers the delivery of services and commits to the committee and the public on the continuous engagement with these businesses on this challenge.

On the positive front, the committee applauded the administration on the positive outlook on the exponential increase on traffic fines collection rate, recording a 57% growth compared to the previous financial year, an improvement that is more likely to boost the municipal coffers.

Furthermore, the committee, in consensus, applauded the municipality on its 100% spending on all allocated conditional grants, especially on infrastructure grant, a good sign of progress and consistent delivery of services to residents.

Also in attendance were communities from Mashupye, Mathibela, Ga-Maila Segolo and also from the nearby Marulaneng Village who took the opportunity to raise some of their basic service delivery concerns.

Bahula furthered committed to look into this years Integrated Development Plan (IDP), in particular on the issue of the construction of a tarred road and a high mast light, raised by the community of Maseleseleng.

The high mast light is set to mitigate some of the challenges of crime incidents experienced by these communities at night.