The O. R. Tambo Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the African National Congress (ANC) welcomes and notes with deep appreciation the conferring of the prestigious Z. K. Matthews Award under the Municipality & Caucus Category to the OR Tambo District Municipality. This award recognises the municipality’s institutional stability, improved governance practices, and renewed commitment to the principles of developmental local government.
This recognition is particularly significant when viewed against the recent history and challenges that confronted the OR Tambo District Municipality. There was a period marked by serious institutional instability, characterised by weaknesses in governance systems, strained political-administrative relations, and instability within the ANC caucus, which negatively affected oversight, decision-making, and the overall functioning of Council.
During this difficult period, the municipality experienced incidents of maladministration and governance lapses, which eroded confidence in its institutional capacity. As a consequence, National Treasury was compelled to withhold certain allocations, citing concerns around financial management, compliance, and governance stability. This intervention served as a serious indictment of the state of affairs at the time and underscored the urgent need for decisive political and administrative correction.
The REC acknowledges that the instability within the ANC caucus itself contributed to the weakening of Council coherence and oversight. Internal divisions, inconsistent application of collective discipline, and deviations from organisational principles compromised the ability of the caucus to provide clear political leadership and effectively guide the municipality in line with the ANC’s developmental agenda.
However, the REC wishes to emphasise that the award now bestowed upon the OR Tambo District Municipality is a direct outcome of deliberate, collective, and painful corrective interventions undertaken over time. These included efforts to restore unity and discipline within the ANC caucus, strengthen the interface between political leadership and administration, stabilise senior management, and reinforce compliance with governance and financial management frameworks.
Through focused political oversight, improved consequence management, and a recommitment to ethical leadership, the municipality has been able to regain institutional credibility, stabilise its governance environment, and progressively improve its financial management practices. The restoration of confidence by oversight institutions and the broader improvement in governance outcomes reflect the seriousness with which these challenges were addressed.
The Z. K. Matthews Award therefore represents not only recognition of current achievements, but also a vindication of the difficult journey from dysfunction to stability, from maladministration to improved governance, and from political fragmentation to greater cohesion and accountability. It affirms that renewal in local government is possible when leadership is decisive, self-correcting, and anchored in the values of the ANC.
This award appreciates very pointed facts in the right direction:
1. A consistent sense of stability in the institution, allowing all to execute their responsibilities freely and with efficiency.
2. ?Consecutive financial years of an unqualified audit opinion, a stark progression from years of qualification and adverse findings.
3. ?Consecutive years of a hundred percent (100%) expenditure on conditional grants, ensuring that no monies are returned to the national fiscus.
4. ?A great improvement in the Mandatory Recovery Plan, seeing the Municipality being a classical case of success in recovery, countrywide.
5. ?A general improvement in the functionality rate of our schemes, coupled with proactive communication with stakeholders in cases of disruption.
We commit to the stakeholders to consolidate on these achievements, and use this recognition as a catalyst to better service. These, we declare shall translate to tangible alteration to the people’s living conditions.
The REC commends the Council, the ANC Caucus, the Executive Leadership, the Municipal Administration, organised labour, and all stakeholders who contributed to this turnaround. Their efforts demonstrate that institutional recovery requires political will, organisational discipline, and a shared commitment to serving the people.
The OR Tambo REC cautions, however, that this award must not breed complacency. The painful lessons of the past must remain a constant reminder of the consequences of instability, poor governance, and factional conduct. The municipality must continue to consolidate gains, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure that improved governance translates into real and measurable service delivery outcomes for the people of OR Tambo District.
The REC reaffirms its commitment to providing political leadership, support, and oversight to ensure that the OR Tambo District Municipality remains on a sustainable path of stability, integrity, and developmental governance, consistent with the historic mission and values of the African National Congress.
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ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS- O.R TAMBO REGION
Enquiries:
Cde Vinny Tsita
Regional Secretary
Mobile No: 065 670 0059
Email: vinny.ortambo@gmail.com
