Some cash-strapped municipalities will take 20 years to recover, says Mkhize

CAPE TOWN - Cooperative governance and traditional affairs portfolio committee chairperson, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said that some cash-strapped municipalities would take 20 years to recover.

He also said that metros like Mangaung and the City of Tshwane were one of only two metros whose audited financials were so dire it raised questions about their ability to function fully.

Mkhize was addressing a Parliament governance cluster briefing on Monday.

"Last week, in Maluti-a-Phofung the committee heard that the municipality is bankrupt and operating with a deficit of R1.5 billion, which will take an estimated 20 years to recover from."

Mkhize also singled out the Free State as one of the worst performers.

"In the auditor-general’s last audit report on municipalities, no municipality in the Free State received a clean audit."