Competent officials should be at helm of local govt: expert
Governance expert Harlan Cloete says a lack of capacity and ability to manage public finances at municipalities leads to financial instability.
Cloete's comment comes after independent research company, Ratings Afrika, revealed that over one hundred municipalities in South Africa are on the verge of becoming financially dysfunctional.
The report says weak governance by councillors and poor financial policies are contributing factors.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Cooperative Governance Department earlier this month announced a Section 154 intervention at eThekwini Municipality.
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The move allows national government to step in and assist eThekwini to manage its affairs.
The City has been plagued by administrative and service delivery issues, while some senior officials are facing fraud and corruption allegations.
Cloete says municipal officials not having the relevant skills and qualifications also adds to dysfunction.
"Qualifications and competence are important skills for a person to have to be able to do to the work to have a theoretical understanding, but to [also] have the practical knowledge to be able to implement your policies.
"So, there can be no doubt that you need competent people."
