Decision on ministerial handbook expected soon

"We are in the process of revisiting the handbook and as you would appreciate, there is extensive work to be done but the public will know soon," Chabane said at a Governance and Administration cluster media briefing in Cape Town.

The Ministerial Handbook, which is a guideline to benefits and allowances as well as probity, is under review following public outcry over millions spent by cabinet ministers on luxury cars.

In another development, a national steering committee comprising various government departments, including the Presidency, has been established to address the issue of money owed to municipalities by national government.

Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi told reporters that seven provinces had submitted reports on monies owed to municipalities.

Last month, national and provincial governments collectively owed Gauteng municipalities R226 million in rates and taxes.

According to MEC for Local Government and Housing, Humphrey Mmemezi, at the end of March this year, Gauteng municipalities were owed R22.212 billion for debt older than 90 days by consumers, businesses and government departments.

With regard to beefing up financial control at municipalities, Baloyi said the inspectorate to fight fraud in municipalities was currently attempting to reduce the backlog of 201 cases reported to the Public Service Commission since 2004 by allowing provinces to take over investigations.

Government also plans to fast track the implementation of the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill, which is aimed at professionalising local government. President Jacob Zuma has already signed the legislation into law.

Among others, it seeks to ensure municipalities are managed by people with the right skills and bars political office bearers from taking up management positions at municipalities.