Western Cape Monitoring and Support of Municipalities Amendment Bill criticised for not giving protection to municipalities
Standing Committee on Local Government member, Noël Constable, added that stricter measures must be included in the bill to protect municipalities from being bullied.
A screengrab of a sitting of the Western Cape Standing Committee on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Picture: @WCProvParl/X
CAPE TOWN - Some members of the Standing Committee on Local Government have criticised the Western Cape Monitoring and Support of Municipalities Amendment Bill for not giving protection to municipalities.
The aim of the bill is to detect early signs of dysfunction in municipalities and allow a member of executive council (MEC) to have investigative powers.
The committee met on Tuesday to consider the comments received from the public.
One of the amendments suggested during public comments was for the MEC to use his discretion on whether to intervene or not when a municipality's affairs were not in order.
Some members believe the MEC might abuse their discretion to hit at municipalities that are not in their party's control.
Committee member, Noël Constable, added that stricter measures must be included in the bill to protect municipalities from being bullied.
"If there's no protection in it for municipalities, administration, and for councillors in this bill, then why are we even amending it. Please put in some strict regulations also to protect them and to make sure that the MEC doesn't use his discretion as a political tool."