The Makhado Local Municipality (MLM) has been recognised by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) for the work it has done the past year. SALGA Limpopo held their awards ceremony at The Ranch Hotel outside Polokwane on 15 March and MLM was awarded several certificates.
MLM received a certificate for sustaining an unqualified audit opinion for 2021/22 - the third consecutive financial year that this award has been bestowed on the municipality. The municipality also received an award for spending 100% of their municipal infrastructure grant and was awarded an additional allocation of R16 million.
Makhado Mayor Samuel Munyai said he was honoured by SALGA's gesture. He was quick to point out, however, that the reason why they were succeeding in their work was because they worked as a team.
"As a municipality, we work as a collective. This helps us to achieve what people think is impossible and helps us to succeed to the point where we get these awards. Many thanks to everyone: Municipal Manager Kent Nemaname, councillors and all the staff members, from junior to senior positions. This is a testimony that indeed Makhado Municipality is committed to render services to the people. We achieved an unqualified audit opinion for the 2020/2021 financial year, and we maintained it for the 2021/2022 financial year. We are certain that we will achieve a clean audit opinion with the next audit. There are many projects in our communities. Some are still in the planning stage, while some are in the procurement process. Unfortunately, many of our community members are not informed. We appeal to our community-development workers and councillors to update our communities about the status of service-delivery issues in their areas," said Munyai.