Lesufi calls for solutions to local government debt

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has proposed a new debt relief programme between local, provincial and national government.

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Lesufi says municipalities owed by provincial and national governments must take action to get the money due to them.
He was addressing the Gauteng Energy Indaba.

Lesufi said, "we need to establish a debt management agency with Cogta nationally so that all those that owe each other, we must have a mechanism of managing this debt."

"We can't use courts. Either from the allocation that debt must be paid from."

"Even provincial government departments that owe local governments, I’m giving permission to local governments in Gauteng to go and attach the assets of provincial governments that owe you. There is no need for provincial government to owe local government."

"I’m also giving you permission to attach the assets of national government that owes you. By the end of August this year." "There must be no single provincial that owes local government in Gauteng.”