National Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse.
The National Treasury announced on Friday that of the 69 municipalities that have had their equitable share transfers withheld, 27 received their funding on Thursday, and 22 others will receive their funds from Monday.
Briefing the joint meeting of four parliamentary committees, National Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse said all 69 municipalities have responded to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s letter informing them of the withholding of their R13.5 billion transfers after they failed to comply with financial management regulations.
“Our teams are processing all the information received from municipalities to determine if municipalities meet the criteria in the letters addressed to the mayors. Additionally, teams from National Treasury and Provincial Treasuries are assisting the affected municipalities to conform,” Pieterse said.
The National Treasury withheld the equitable share transfers to instill fiscal discipline and ensure that public money is properly managed, that unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure (UIFWE) is addressed, and that municipal officials and office-bearers are held accountable where required by law.
