Residents in Ditsobotla have long complained about the collapse of basic services such as water, electricity, and waste collection. Image: Fandom North West.
(The Post News)– The Ditsobotla Municipality crisis has reached a critical point after more than 10 years of failed provincial interventions. Residents and civic organizations are facing a steady decline in service delivery, financial mismanagement, and prolonged political instability that have left the municipality crippled.
The Ditsobotla National Intervention is now underway after years of service delivery failures, political instability, and financial mismanagement at the municipality. For over a decade, provincial government interventions have failed to bring stability, forcing the national government to invoke Section 139(7) of the Constitution—a powerful move that transfers control from the provincial government to the national executive.
This decision comes after repeated calls from the North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, community lobby groups, and experts who believe that only a coordinated, resource-backed national intervention can restore functionality to the Lichtenburg-based municipality.
Ditsobotla Municipality Crisis—A Decade of Collapse
For more than 10 years, Ditsobotla Local Municipality has been plagued by systemic issues. The municipality’s financial audits were damning, with a disclaimer issued on its reports for nine out of ten years between 2010–2011 and 2020–2021.
The municipality became infamous for its governance chaos, with periods where two mayors, two speakers, and two municipal managers operated simultaneously, worsening service delivery. Basic services collapsed, leaving residents without reliable water, sanitation, and infrastructure maintenance. Despite multiple interventions by the provincial government, the situation only deteriorated further, leading to an unprecedented move from the national government.
MEC Gaoage Molapisi’s Call for a National Solution
North West CoGTA MEC Gaoage Molapisi admitted that the province’s efforts had failed to yield results. Molapisi made an impassioned call for a national takeover, stating, “The national government must invoke section 1397 and send an administrator from national. Because from the province, we have to solve the municipality; we have sent the PR, and we have done everything. Now you need to send the national government; they need to move in. But when the national government moves in, like I said, don’t bring an individual to say no; he or she must come and be a municipal manager and accounting officer. Bring the team, bring the resources, bring everybody so that you can address the problem.”
Molapisi stressed that the intervention must be comprehensive—not just appointing individuals but sending a full team capable of addressing the structural and governance challenges facing Ditsobotla.
Importantly, Molapisi emphasized that dissolution of municipalities was not on the table, “But dissolving it, I don’t think we should take that direction, like I’m saying. Unfortunately, voters would continue to give you the same outcome that they’ve given us, so it’s not an option. So far, where we are, we are not considering dissolving any municipality, no matter what the problems are there. Intervention would come as the last resort.”
National Government’s Intervention Plan
The national government has acted decisively, invoking Section 139(7) of the Constitution, which allows the national executive to take over responsibilities normally performed by the provincial government when there is persistent failure.
This means that while the Minister of Finance will assume the powers and functions of the MEC for Finance during the intervention, a national team will execute executive responsibilities on behalf of the national executive. Additionally, a Joint Operational Task Team will be established through consultation with the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Cluster to investigate and prosecute criminal activities within the municipality.
This integrated approach aims not only to stabilize governance but also to root out corruption and criminal networks that have reportedly infiltrated municipal operations.
Community Reaction: Lobby Groups Welcome Intervention
Lobby group Sakeliga, which has repeatedly taken Ditsobotla to court over service delivery failures, welcomed the move.
Naudé Pienaar of Sakeliga stated, “National intervention will only assist us if there is political will to intervene, to place the needs of the community first, and to involve local private businesses. The only way that we’re going to get a permanent solution in Ditsobotla is if we get rid of incompetent political appointees. Secondly, to involve the private sector. Thirdly, to acknowledge that we’ve got problems in Ditsobotla and we need to continue working together if we want to solve the problems and the challenges.”
Expert Analysis: A Chance for Political Stability
Political analyst Dr. Arthur Shopola believes the Ditsobotla National Intervention could be a turning point. “The national government has a track record of positive intervention. Whenever they intervene, they previously did so in this province in relation to the provincial administration. And what we saw was a stable government after all. So we must be hopeful that when it comes to the Ditsobotla situation, it will also stabilize politics and administration. And I think that the point of departure in this case is that Ditsobotla should actually accept that it is facing a problem and take the injection so that it heals the situation.”
ANC’s Earlier Proposal for Dissolution
Earlier this year, the ANC in the North West proposed dissolving Ditsobotla and incorporating its areas into nearby municipalities. This was seen as a radical solution but faced resistance from MEC Molapisi and other stakeholders who argued that dissolution was not the right approach. Instead, the current intervention allows for a targeted response without dismantling municipal structures completely.
Residents of Ditsobotla, on the other hand, have endured years of service delivery protests, deteriorating infrastructure, and unreliable municipal leadership. Thus, the Ditsobotla National Intervention is expected to bring improved service delivery through dedicated teams and financial oversight, stability in governance with clear lines of accountability, investigations and prosecutions for corruption and maladministration, and economic opportunities through involvement of private businesses in local development projects.
The Ditsobotla National Intervention represents a decisive and hopeful moment for a municipality that has struggled for more than a decade. While challenges remain, the involvement of the national government, combined with oversight from private stakeholders and civil society, could pave the way for long-term recovery and stability. If the intervention succeeds, Ditsobotla could become a case study in how national and provincial governments can work together with communities to restore failing municipalities and deliver the basic services that residents deserve.
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