Riyaz Patel
North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Gordon Kegakilwe has reportedly approved terms of reference for the involvement of an administrator in the troubled JB Marks Municipality.
The move, in line with Section 139 of the Constitution, allows provincial governments to intervene in the running of dysfunctional municipalities.
Sources in the JB Marks council reportedly said that an administrator has arrived at the municipality to begin work.
News24 reported that it has seen the five-page terms of reference notice signed by Kegakilwe dated August 26, 2019.
The document ratifies that the administrator “takes over all the executive obligations/functions of the municipality,” while also assuming all the municipal manager’s powers and mandates, the online news platform reported.
The terms of reference further outlines that one of the administrator’s roles is to facilitate “the improvement of governance and administration within the municipality.”
The administrator is also tasked with taking “corrective action on irregular expenditure incurred.”
The municipality, however, has not confirmed receiving the notice, saying it would find out whether it had been placed under administration at Thursday’s council meeting.
Another legal document, sent on behalf of a councillor, states council’s intention to interdict the provincial government from invoking a Section 139 notice, News24 reported.
JB Marks Municipality has been the subject of controversy, rocked by a list of claims detailing alleged fraud, corruption and maladministration.
