Deputy President David Mabuza says government is piloting a new plan that has been designed to help struggling municipalities collect revenue that is due to them.
Mabuza said this when he fielded oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday. “As part of the package of integrated support to improve the performance of municipalities, the national and provincial departments of CoGTA [Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs], National Treasury [and] provincial treasuries are supporting municipalities in the area of revenue collection to ensure that municipalities are able to meet their service delivery obligation. “I am advised that to date, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has piloted and simplified a revenue plan in 42 selected municipalities, which is aimed at enhancing the municipal revenue management and debt collection systems in local government. “Progress on these municipalities is closely monitored by CoGTA as well as National Treasury,” he said.The Deputy President said the successful implementation of the revenue plan will result in improved revenue management; reduced municipal consumer debt and the protection of municipal revenue.
He also said that targeted support is being provided to distressed municipalities to ensure that critical areas of revenue enhancement are strengthened and institutionalised. Some of the key measures include:- Ensuring revenue policies are in place in some of these municipalities, ensuring that clear credit control policies are implemented;
- Putting in place accurate and credible billing systems;
- Ensuring that everyone who should be paying is actually paying property rates and services;
- Monitoring of debtor accounts to ensure that those who must pay meet their obligation on time; and
- Implementing effective control systems, prevent revenue leakages, wastages and corrupt practices that depletes the money that has been already collected.
