Municipality Restructuring

Mr. Nnete ( left) ,Mr. Mmope (right) during the launch of the municipal fleet 

Ditsobotla, three years ago, was ‘technically bankrupt’ and the provincial administration    had to step in. Today, through stringent financial control and sweeping changes throughout the finance department, the municipality is once again financially viable and able to deliver on its mandate. “Not only have the finances improved considerably, business, community trust and support has also returned which augurs well for the future” said the Chief Financial Officer, Sam Mmope.

Sam Mmope is an ministerial appointment and was tasked in 2009 to get the municipality’s financial house and administration in order –his successes, is related in this article. His task was not an easy one-shortage of skilled staff, low staff morale ,severe cash flow, outdated equipment, incorrect billing data, improper supply chain management, poor response to audit queries, mapping out a new financial route, motivating political and administrative buy in and non –compliance with financial legislation were some of the challenges confronting him. However, he set about his task, and through sweeping changes in the unit has succeeded in restoring financial viability and growing the municipal budget from R149 Million in 2008/09 to R250 Million in 2010/11.