Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has reiterated the call for non-viable municipalities to cease to exist and believes keeping them is irresponsible and hinders service delivery
At least 65 of municipalities in the country are in financial distress.
Hlabisa was engaging the business sector in East London, Eastern Cape during his consultations on the review of the 1998 White Paper on local government.
He says every municipality must submit annual financial statements as means of accountability to the public.
Hlabisa says, "If you have municipality that fails dismally, why should you carry on with that municipality? Why dont you combine it or merge with other municipalities so that people get more benefit? If you merge municipalities it doesnt affect the representation on the ground because wards remain as wards."