Limpopo's best and worst municipalities named
The Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) released its Liveability Monitor for Limpopo Province today, indicating the province's best and worst municipalities. Limpopo Province is often in the news due to poor administration and management. In comparison with municipalities in Gauteng, those in Limpopo fared much worse. Municipalities in the Waterberg District Municipality are the best performing municipalities in Limpopo and the municipalities in the Sekhukhune District Municipality are the province's worst municipalities.
According to Eugene Brink, senior researcher of the SRI, Limpopo consists of five district municipalities which are further subdivided into 25 local municipalities. Brink said the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, part of the Waterberg District Municipality, received the best liveability score of 5,5 out of 10, while the Elias Motsoaledi, Ephraim Mogale and Makhuduthamaga Local Municipalities received the worst liveability scores, namely 1 out of 10.
Brink said the municipalities of Bela-Bela, Lephalale, Modimolle, Mogalakwena, Mookgopong and Thabazimbi, all part of the Waterberg District Municipality, all scored an average of between 4 and 5,5 out of 10 for liveability. ‘Owing to a large number of households with access to running water, a relatively low crime rate compared to other municipalities in the province and a low unemployment rate, municipalities in the Waterberg District Municipality generally fared better than municipalities within other district municipalities. Nonetheless, there are many vacant positions in these municipalities.'
Brink said the municipalities of Elias Motsoaledi, Ephraim Mogale, Fetakgomo, Greater Tubatse and Makhuduthamaga, all part of the Sekhukhune District Municipality, scored an average of between 1 and 2 out of 10 for liveability. ‘Due to the high unemployment rate, municipalities in the Sekhukhune District Municipality generally received lower ratings than other municipalities. The unemployment rate in all five municipalities is above 40%. Water supply and waste disposal in most of the municipalities are totally inadequate and there are many vacant posts. The crime rate in some of the municipalities is very high.'
The liveability ratings of the various municipalities:
According to Brink, the purpose of the monitor is to measure the liveability of the province at municipal level. Liveability is measured by analysing a range of key indicators as well as sub-indicators falling under it. The monitor forms part of Solidarity's commitment to provide tax payers with information on how their tax money is utilised. Mainly through research, the trade union acts as watchdog by monitoring the spending of the workers' taxes.
Click here to download the Liveability Monitor for Limpopo Province.
Click here to download the Liveability Monitor for Gauteng that was released earlier this year.
* The Liveability Monitor is a handy, compact guide on liveability in South African municipalities and metropolitan areas. The Liveability Monitor is based on available information and is therefore not fully comprehensive; it is a momentary assessment, not an analysis over time. As further information becomes available or could be included in future, the liveability ratings for municipalities and metropolitan areas would obviously be adjusted and could be compared with previous years.
Statement issued by Eugene Brink, Senior researcher: SRI and Piet le Roux, Senior economics researcher: SRI, December 5 2013
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