National intervention a victory for Ditsobotla residents

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The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes the announcement that national government will directly intervene in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg.

The people of Lichtenburg and Coligny have been plagued by the lawlessness and mismanagement characterising the Municipality for years.

The Freedom Front Plus along with organisations such as Sakeliga has repeatedly called on the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, for intervention.

In August 2024, the party formally requested the Minister to adopt a new, more comprehensive approach to intervention for exceptional cases such as Ditsobotla.

An interdepartmental, multidisciplinary intervention in Ditsobotla, involving the National Treasury (NT), COGTA, law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), was proposed.

Today, during a meeting with the North West provincial government and the Ditsobotla Municipal Council, the Minister provided a detailed outline of national government’s intervention.

A national Cabinet representative will head the intervention, supported by a team of experts reporting directly to Cabinet. All executive powers of the mayor, Council and municipal manager of Ditsobotla have been transferred to the Cabinet representative, including all financial decision-making.   

The team of experts includes representatives from the NT, engineers and local government specialists.

Their mandate entails implementing proper financial systems and reviewing procurement processes. Irregular contracts and tenders will be identified for further investigation and appropriate action.  

This team will be supported by a task force comprising the police, the NPA and the State Security Agency (SSA) to identify, investigate and duly prosecute irregularities and corruption.

So, the Freedom Front Plus's proposals for an effective intervention to curb lawlessness and restore service delivery in Ditsobotla have been fully adopted.

The deployment of law enforcement agencies and the NPA as part of this section-139(7) intervention is a first in South Africa. The party trusts that the intervention will be carried out effectively, restoring law and order in Ditsobotla.

This is a good example of effective collaboration between political parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) and civil organisations, such as Sakeliga, joining hands to protect residents’ interests and improve service delivery.

The Freedom Front Plus will keep finding decisive, constructive and creative ways to address municipal decay in the North West province.