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A joint parliamentary delegation has called for urgent action to fix poor service delivery in the Eastern Cape. The team spent a week engaging with 19 municipalities and found serious governance and financial management problems affecting basic services.
What Happened
The delegation visited several municipalities that continue to underperform. It found that many rely too much on consultants without transferring skills, leading to poor internal capacity. In addition, officials are struggling with weak financial management, unauthorised spending, and poor revenue collection.
Leadership instability and underspending on infrastructure are also slowing down development. The delegation warned that the ongoing disconnect between the provincial government and municipalities is worsening delays in service delivery projects.
Official Response
Delegation chairperson Ms Dikeledi Direko said the real problem lies in leadership failure and the lack of courage to act.
“Many of the failures we see are not because people do not know what to do, but because there is no willingness to confront misconduct. This must change,” she said.
She added that accountability should begin with those in charge and called on the Office of the Auditor-General to introduce early-warning systems that flag risks before audits are completed.
“We need timely reporting and quicker action so that accountability follows immediately,” she said.
The delegation, which included representatives from COGTA, the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury, and the Provincial Legislature, also highlighted the need for stronger financial controls and the full use of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) to restore order and confidence in local governance.
Community Impact
Communities across the province continue to suffer from poor service delivery — from dry taps to potholes and delays in infrastructure projects. The delegation said these failures are a direct result of poor management and the absence of decisive leadership.
“The task before us is not easy, but it is necessary. Accountability begins with leadership that acts,” said Ms Direko.
The group has directed the MECs for Finance and COGTA to keep a close eye on council decisions and report back to Parliament with clear timelines and measurable improvements.
