President Zuma is gambling with the future of municipalities

If President Jacob Zuma is serious to crack down on municipal mismanagement, he should not delay signing the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill.

According to Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg, AfriForum's Head of Community Affairs, President Zuma's delay provides the local politicians with an opportunity to deploy their cadres, compensate political loyalty and create a general environment for corruption.

"The President is busy gambling with the future of local management," Jansen van Rensburg said.

The amendment act contains strict conditions which set out criteria for senior municipal appointments. The establishment of the act will prohibit incompetent appointments based on political considerations. It makes it possible to set minimum professional standards for executive positions of the municipal administration and prevents senior party political office bearers to be appointed in municipal administrations.

The amendment act also contains stipulations which would complicate the reappointment of corrupt officials.

"By delaying this act to come into effect will be a day late and a dollar short," Jansen van Rensburg said.

He added that Pres. Zuma should take heed of the service delivery protests over the past years. "Communities are fed up with the politicisation of local government administrations. While the politicians are busy sharing the metaphorical tax cake, local infrastructure and service delivery are crumbling.

"Some of the biggest violations of human rights take place on local government level, and the President uses it to his own advantage."

Statement issued by Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg, AfriForum Head: Community Affairs, June 8 2011

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