The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape is calling for an investigation into allegations of maladministration in the Walter Sisulu Municipality.
DA MPL, Vicky Knoetze, said she had written to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to institute a probe in terms of section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act which states that if an MEC has any reason to believe that maladministration is occurring at a municipality, the MEC can, if necessary designate a person to investigate the matters."
Knoetze alleges in a statement Monday that the maladministration includes the municipality owing Eskom over R140 million, R117-million for Aliwal North and Burgersdorp and R23-million for Venterstad.
"The municipality has been instructed to pay R55m of this debt by the end of March 2017 or face the consequences of no power for residents," she added.
Knoetze said eight cars were attached due to pensions funds that have not been paid out and that the municipality further owes pension funds over R24 million.
She also the "financial situation in Walter Sisulu Municipality has reached crisis level and is no longer capable of acting autonomously especially in terms of its financial position."
Knoetze said provincial authorities must intervene so as to ensure that the Walter Sisulu Municipality delivers services to the communities.
Meanwhile, the municipality was planning on having a council meeting in East London on 30 March which would have been preceded by a strategic planning in which in no opposition parties received notice for.
"To plan a 700km round trip and five nights' accommodation for at least 35 people when you cannot pay Eskom is absolutely absurd," she said.
"I will vigorously pursue this matter through the various legislature channels. The DA is committed to turning local government around in the Eastern Cape," Knoetze concluded
