By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality (MAP) has enlisted the assistance of the department of corporate governance and traditional affairs (COGTA) as it grapples with severe workforce management challenges, stemming from entrenched corruption and maladministration.
According to the Democratic Alliance (DA) there is currently no organogram in MAP and therefore staff are employed in non-existent positions, exacerbating the issue of maladministration and fostering a culture of non-accountability.
According to the DA, senior managers struggle to assess performance, leading to an exorbitant monthly salary bill of R60 million with no commensurate benefits to the municipality or the community.
“The Municipal Manager (MM) informed us of a pilot process initiated by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), slated to address this issue by 2025.
“Despite initial plans to collaborate with the University of Pretoria for the development of a new organisational structure, this agreement was subsequently abandoned. The recent promise by the mayor to implement a new organogram alongside the budget only adds to the confusion within the municipality,” DA councillor Moshe Lefuma said to the media.
Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality executive mayor Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia.
Lefuma said the DA is deeply concerned by the lack of progress and accountability in resolving this crisis and commit to submitting their inquiries to COGTA for clarity on their involvement in the process.
He claimed that neither the MAP16-led coalition nor the current ANC-led administration has offered a viable solution to this ongoing debacle.
In response, MAP communications officer Thabo Kessah told tis publication: “Yes, it is true, we can confirm Cogta’s involvement, and the process is ongoing. In fact, we had a presentation from the appointed service provider on the proposed organogram on Friday, April 12. We will be making our inputs by end of business on Tuesday 16 April 2024. The revised organogram should be in effect in the near future.”
