By Emily Setona
BETHLEHEM – The Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality (TMDM) council convened in Bethlehem, Dihlabeng Local Municipality, on March 31, 2025, to discuss governance matters, including the refinement of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
Democratic Alliance (DA) councillors Marius Marais, Eric Motloung, and Leona Kleynhans welcomed the initiative but stressed the need for a comprehensive workshop to refine the IDP.
“The IDP in its current form requires a critical review. All councillors, including those from local municipalities, need a workshop to ensure it aligns with community needs and municipal objectives,” Marais noted.
Motloung suggested that public participation should precede the drafting of the IDP. “Would it hurt us to engage the public first before drafting the document? The workshop can then outline our priorities,” he said.
Kleynhans echoed these concerns, citing the Auditor-General’s (AG) report, which criticized TMDM’s priorities. “The AG report highlights that the municipality’s focus is not aligned with its core mandate as a district entity. This misalignment must be addressed to ensure effective governance,” she emphasized.
In response, Council Speaker Thabo Mokoena argued that having a draft IDP before engaging the public would be more effective.
Executive Mayor Conny Msibi acknowledged the concerns, agreeing that a workshop would be a viable solution. “A workshop for councillors is a good idea, and council will look into it,” she said.
Following these discussions, TMDM MPAC Chairperson Setswana Chabeli presented the committee’s findings, stressing the importance of accountability and financial oversight.
TMDM Executive Mayor Conny Msibi.
“The purpose of this report is to consider and approve the MPAC oversight report on the 2023/24 Annual Report. MPAC recommends that proper internal control systems be developed and maintained, with responsible officials held accountable. We urge council to implement these recommendations to enhance service delivery,” Chabedi stated.
The session underscored the need for structured policy adjustments and strategic planning to improve governance at the district level.
