MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nomusa Dube Ncube has warned municipalities to generate their own revenue or face collapse.
Dube-Ncube was addressing mayors and senior municipal officials on governance issues in Durban on Tuesday.
She said private investment was key to the sustainability and the future of municipalities.
“The mayors should plan properly and draw up plans of how they will attract investment to their communities. And after two years we sit down and we review what the municipalities have done to attract investment.
“Municipalities needs to attract investment because they need a revenue base. If they do not have that, they will collapse,” she warned.
She said the mayors had been in office long enough to understand their environment and should therefore not make excuses.
“No one here can say that I am new I... have just walked into this situation. The audit opinions that are coming this December will be a reflection of the work that you have dome since taking office,” she said.
Dube-Ncube’s warning comes as at least two municipalities in the KZN Midlands are nearing collapse.
The Inkosi Langalibalele municipality in Estcourt recently admitted that it was almost bankrupt, although the position was improving slightly.
The Mooi/Mpofana municipality, which received a disclaimer last year, is in dire straits due to infighting in the council and a poor revenue base and collection. There are fears it will receive another disclaimer when the audit opinions are released.
“There are challenges in Mooi-Mpofana, that is true, but there is a Cogta team that is working to assist the municipality,” said Dube Ncube.