Municipal skills crisis must be tackled to fix local government, says Zweli Mkhize

Zweli Mkhize, chairperson of Parliament’s Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) committee, says South African municipalities cannot address failing services, weak governance and financial mismanagement without qualified staff. He urged incoming municipal councils to professionalise local government and audit officials’ skills and qualifications. Mkhize also named capable councillors, tackling corruption and financial mismanagement, and maintaining infrastructure as priorities.