The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has taken upon itself to intervene in the probing of challenges faced by numerous local municipalities in the Northern Cape.

As a result, the association has decisively embarked on a road show aimed at finding common consensus with the municipalities to deal with the difficulties that also constrain service delivery. SALGA believes its intervention at this point will, in a way, enhance equitable and sustainable delivery of services to communities.

On October 04, 2018 the provincial executive committee and the provincial management team initiated the engagement process with ZF Mgcawu and Namakwa municipalities with Gamagara local municipality in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district as the next target.

A good example of the myriad challenges in the spotlight is the Eskom arrears debacle haunting municipalities.

The provincial chairperson of SALGA, Councillor Sofia Mosikatsi, said that municipalities sign contracts with Eskom without consulting SALGA for advice and that hinders them from the support that the association can render, only to come when they are entangled in the great controversy.

“Seemingly, due to pressure from trade creditors, municipalities enter into debt repayment agreements and sign contracts that are not necessarily in their best interest,” said Johannes Ruiters, the acting provincial executive officer of SALGA. The trend has seen many municipalities in serious financial liquidity and therefore stifling service delivery.

Councillor Mosikatsi also advised municipalities to submit reports and financial statements on time as so required by the relevant authorities.

The meeting also highlighted the need for SALGA to train councillors in running the affairs of municipalities