Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has set out the duties of Kopung Ralikontsane, the national Cabinet representative dispatched to fix the troubled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West.
Ralikontsane – who in executing his responsibilities will have to consult with the speaker, mayor and municipal manager depending on the nature of the subject matter – is expected to implement the financial recovery plan on behalf of the national Cabinet.
Among his roles and responsibilities include leading the team appointed to implement the national executive’s intervention in terms of section 139(7) of the Constitution.
He will report to the inter-ministerial committee on municipal performance turnaround strategy on a quarterly basis through Hlabisa and Finance minister, Enoch Godongwana.
Ralikontsane’s wide-ranging powers include undertaking all executive functions of the municipal council and the mayor as well as all fiscal and financial functions including being signatory on the municipal primary banking account and any other bank account that the municipality is operating.
He must also perform the functions referred to in the Municipal System Act and any other relevant legislative provisions dealing with disciplinary matters including criminal and civil action.
Ralikontsane also has to review and process all investigations either by the municipality or by the province, if any, and ensure speedy finalisation and submit regular reports on the progress of the intervention to Hlabisa and Godongwana and the inter-ministerial committee.
He must assist in improving financial controls in the municipality including procurement processes, revenue enhancement and debt collection.
He will also deal with unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and relevant circulars as well as generally addressing reports of Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke relating to MFMA compliance.
In addition, he will be expected to implement all governance systems and procedures including oversight over the administration, ensure implementation of financial systems, policies, and procedures as well as approve all decisions taken by the municipal manager or acting municipal manager in terms of delegated or original authority.
Ralikontsane and his team must also implement the financial recovery plan (FRP) imposed by the North West provincial executive council and subsequently by Godongwana and a system to control and approve all expenditure.
Hlabisa also expects him to ensure the review or develop and implement the post-audit action plan addressing Maluleke’s findings and set out a specific strategy to address the financial problems experienced by the municipality including a strategy for reducing unnecessary expenditure and the collection of revenue.
Ralikontsane must assess the municipality’s contractual obligations and negotiate contractual payments, scope, and agreed schedule with service providers including the termination of unlawful contracts having followed all due diligence processes and review of all litigation to ensure its speedy finalisation.
Other key tasks include reviewing and implementing cost containment measures, relooking the organisational structure, personnel costs, head count and other related variables, ensuring that conditional grants are ring-fenced and are used for intended purposes.
Ralikontsane, who retired as Free State government director-general last year, is subject to adverse findings by Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka over his role in the R5.9m expenditure on funerals of late former education MEC Tate Makgoe and his bodyguard Warrant Officer Vuyo Mdi.
He has filed a Gauteng High Court, Pretoria review of Gcaleka’s report after he secured an interdict stopping Free State premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, from disciplining him pending the finalisation of the review application.
