Raw sewage on potholed streets, piles of garbage on sidewalks and water and power shortages became routine in the Eastern Cape municipality of Makana. Then something extraordinary happened that could change the face of local government politics.
Makhanda -
The High Court last month granted a civil rights group’s application to have the southeastern municipality’s council dissolved because it had failed to provide adequate services and properly manage its operations. Judge Igna Stretch ordered the provincial government to appoint an administrator to run the district until fresh elections are held.
The unprecedented 117-page decision sent shock waves through the ANC, which controls scores of other towns hobbled by corruption and mismanagement. While the judgment is being appealed, the genie is out of the bottle. Community groups in the Enoch Mgijima municipality north of Makana have filed their own lawsuit to disband the council and others may follow suit.
“Democracy has been served,” Ayanda Kota, chairman of the Unemployed People’s Movement, which filed the Makana suit, said in an interview. “The ruling means people have the power to go to court and throw corrupt politicians out of office and elect competent ones.” A succession of government reports has shown the mounting risk the 257 municipalities pose to the nation’s finances. Just 18 got clean audits in the year through June 2018, according to the Auditor-General. Local authorities are collectively owed almost R170 billion for rates and services, and their inability to collect it from residents who are unable or unwilling to pay means they struggle to settle their own bills.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
While South Africa is navel-gazing, Zimbabwe is facing starvation | IOL NewsOPINION: Across our border 7.7 million Zimbabweans are facing the worst hunger emergency in a decade and no one is talking about it, says Shannon Ebrahim.
Read more »
Don’t blame students, blame the commodification of knowledge in South Africa | IOL NewsOPINION: As long as vice chancellors operate as CEOs of corporate companies and council members as board members, nothing will ever be fixed because their goal is to make profit out of poor students, says Sbonelo Radebe.
Read more »
African private equity fund buys Burger King South Africa franchiseU.S.-based Burger King, maker of the Whopper Burger, opened its first South African outlet in Cape Town in 2013 and competes with market leader McDonald's Corp and other burger chains such as RocoMamas.
Read more »
Kyle Akaloo is the best pool player in South Africa | Sunday TribuneKyle Akaloo’s victory over defending champion Aden Joseph handed him the South African National Blackball title and sees him become the top ranked player in the country.
Read more »
South Africa pushes to eat more greenA free “veggie challenge” is under way to encourage locals trying to quit meat. So far 50 000 people have signed up in the past six months to take part in the ProVeg Veggie Challenge and the Veganuary initiative.
Read more »
DD Mabuza arrives in South Sudan for launch of unity government | IOL NewsDD Mabuza, as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy to South Sudan, engaged in extensive shuttle diplomacy over the past ...
Read more »