A motion by the DA’s province spokesperson on Local Government, Dacre Haddon, will be debated in the Bhisho Legislature next week to decide whether national and local government departments can be forced to pay their outstanding bills to municipalities for services rendered before the end of the financial year on 31 March 2010.

Haddon’s motion states that the non-payment of funds severely retards service delivery.  It is expected that the House will agree to resolutions  that:

1. a report highlighting all outstanding monies owed by both provincial and national governments be tabled at the next sittings of the Finance and Local Government portfolio committees;
2. all monies owed from provincial departments and national departments in the province be paid in full by end of the 2009/10 financial year;
3. all MEC’s follow up with their cabinet colleagues at National parliament to expedite payment to municipalities owed monies by national departments;
4. MEC’s investigate whether interest accrued in their departments as a result of late payment is fruitless and wasteful expenditure and report this as well as causes for delayed payments and disciplinary steps against officials (if applicable) and table these reports at the next meeting of Finance and Local Government  portfolio committees.