Andile Moshoeshoe
THE mayor of the Greater Kokstad Municipality Lwanda Madikizela stressed that sound financial management should never be an end in itself but must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of residents.
He made these remarks during an exclusive interview with the Post after the Greater Kokstad Municipality was once again recognised as the province’s best-performing municipality in financial management and governance out of KwaZulu-Natal’s 54 municipalities.
The municipality has retained the top position for an unprecedented six consecutive years in the category of sound governance and financial stability. The assessment was conducted by Africa Ratings, an independent agency that evaluates the financial performance and governance standards of municipalities across South Africa.
Beyond its provincial success, the municipality has also strengthened its national standing, improving from sixth to fourth place among municipalities countrywide.
Reflecting on the municipality’s sustained excellence, Madikizela attributed the achievement to the appointment of qualified, experienced and competent professionals, coupled with a culture of accountability and ethical leadership.
“I wish to commend all political parties represented in the municipality, as well as our dedicated officials, for their unwavering commitment to ensuring that public funds remain in capable, responsible and trustworthy hands,” said Madikizela.
He further emphasised that the municipality’s success is underpinned by a spirit of collaboration that transcends political divisions.
He acknowledged that maintaining sound financial governance is particularly challenging for a municipality such as Greater Kokstad which receives a relatively limited equitable share from the National Treasury and relies heavily on revenue generated through property rates and municipal services.
He concluded by reiterating that prudent financial management is meaningful only when it delivers visible service delivery, sustainable development and lasting benefits for the communities the municipality serves.
