In the light of AfriForum’s recent success in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in the case against the eMadlangeni Local Government, the civil rights watchdog is now in a position to request the highest qualifications of officials at the Matjhabeng Municipality.
“The law requires that municipal officials comply with certain minimum requirements. We increasingly see how municipalities perform poorly and it is mainly attributed to the appointment of incompetent persons,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Regional Coordinator for the Free State.
An audit report clearly pointed out that more than R821 million was mismanaged in this municipality during the 2014/2015 financial year and De Klerk is of the opinion that it directly correlates with unqualified municipal officials.
AfriForum wants to see to it that competent persons are employed to ensure that tax funds are sensibly applied in communities.