The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape is pleased that the most recent Ratings Afrika report rates a number of Western Cape Municipalities as the top performers on its Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) for the fiscal year ending June 2019.
See the report here.
The top three municipalities are all in the Western Cape and include Mossel Bay, Saldanha Bay and Swartland. Over the years, these municipalities have strengthened their financial sustainability in such a way that they can deliver quality services, even in unstable and turbulent times.
Municipalities are scored on their ability to develop and maintain the infrastructure necessary to deliver services without having to make additional increases in rates and tariffs charged or reducing the level of service delivery. They are also rated on their ability to manage financial pressure in times of crises.
The Western Cape is not only the highest-scoring province in the country, but also the only province that has improved its financial sustainability over the last five years. This is quite an achievement, especially to cushion the unforeseen circumstances we find ourselves in currently.
Covid-19 and the subsequent national lockdown has taken a heavy toll on the country’s economy and left many of our institutions wanting and our people destitute.
Our DA-led municipalities have, over the years, dedicated themselves to maintaining sound long-term development planning, financial management policies and discipline. In turn, this allowed the municipalities to maintain a safety net and absorb the pressures brought along by Covid-19, and ensure that all residents, especially the most vulnerable, continue to receive proper services.
The Ratings Afrika report is a direct reflection of the role municipal councillors play to ensure good governance. Therefore the DA would like to sincerely applaud the hard work and dedication of the councillors of each of these municipalities.
Under the guidance of their leadership, together with the officials concerned, they ensured that where the DA governs, it governs well and puts the interests of the people first.