The MEC for Co-operative Government, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGSTA), Mr Clifford Motsepe, promised that he would make sure that all municipalities in the province achieved a clean audit report. Motsepe was speaking during the official inauguration of the newly appointed mayor of Makhado Municipality at an event that was held at the Vyeboom sports grounds on Tuesday.

He said that no excuses would be tolerated in this regard. "I will be working closely with the municipalities in ensuring that we strengthen and instil good financial management," said Motsepe. "We must all be crusaders of good governance. Our clean audit goals are an objective we must achieve," he said.

Officially inaugurating the new mayor, Motsepe said that all audit queries raised by the auditor general (AG) must be attended to with immediate effect. "Gone are those days when audit reports remained unattended year after year. Makhado Municipality has been the worst-performing municipality in the province for the past eight financial years. There is no time and we must ensure that the work begin in earnest right now. We must ensure that, by 2014, all municipalities achieve a clean audit. We need to do things differently in local government indeed," Motsepe said.

He lashed out at lazy councillors and administrators. He told the new mayor: "Among your responsibilities as a political leader is the provision oversight and monitoring. This remains a challenge not only in this municipality, but in many municipalities in the province."

Motsepe added that, year after year, the AG found that councillors interfered with supply chain management processes or the appointment of staff in the organisation. "Councillors are forbidden from partaking in supply management processes," he warned. Motsepe congratulated the new mayor and urged him to work hard, together with all councillors, in ensuring that services are rendered to the people.

Traditional leader Khosi-Pfareli Vho-Lilian Netshimbupfe wished Mutavhatsindi all the best with his appointment. For the first time in the history of Makhado Municipality, SAMWU members attended the inauguration of the mayor.

Meanwhile the chairperson of SAMWU, Mr Elvis Tlou, said that his organisation was satisfied with the new changes in leadership at the municipality. "The new mayor must ensure that workers have working tools in order for them to be able to do their jobs," Tlou said.

In his response, the new mayor, Cllr David Mutavhatsindi, said that he was very cognisant of the serious responsibility given to him and members of his council. "We accept this responsibility willingly. Our responsibility as council is to act now and act decisively on matters that concern improving the quality of the lives of our people," he said.

He added that the municipality would expand the provision of water and the quality-testing programme in the main town, R293 towns and rural areas. "We shall increase our collective efforts in partnership with the Vhembe District Municipality to ensure that the bulk water supply to our municipality is realised within a set time frame. This would address existing backlogs and water interruptions," Mutavhatsindi said.