The process to incorporate Heilbron, including Phiritona, into Metsimaholo Local Municipality has gathered momentum as the management teams of Metsimaholo and Ngwathe Local Municipalities intensify efforts to ensure a coordinated, structured and seamless transition.
On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the management teams, led by Dr Futhuli Mothamaha, Municipal Manager of Ngwathe Local Municipality, and Mr Basi Motloung, Municipal Manager of Metsimaholo Local Municipality, met at the Council Chambers at Parys to assess progress, deliberate on work undertaken by the various workstreams and consolidate preparations ahead of the presentation of the transition report to the two Municipal Councils tomorrow, Thursday, 29 October 2026.
The report to be presented to the two councils will provide an overview of the work completed thus far, outstanding matters and the preparations undertaken to facilitate the transition. Key areas covered include fleet requirements, the status of grant-funded projects, payroll readiness, billing and payment arrangements, essential services and the handover of municipal assets.
To give effect to the transitional measures, eight workstreams were established to address the different aspects of the incorporation process:
Governance, Contracts, By-laws, Institutional Policies and Record Management
Human Resources, Labour and Litigation Matters
Basic Fleet, Infrastructure and Service Delivery
Finance, Assets and Information
Communication and Information Technology
Spatial Development, Integrated and Urban Development Planning
Corporate Identity, Communication and Stakeholder Management
Security Services
The Transformation Manager has held a total of 18 meetings with the respective workstreams of both municipalities, through individual and joint engagements, to drive the implementation of the transitional measures.
In addition, the two Municipal Managers have convened four joint meetings to coordinate and facilitate the transfer of Heilbron/Phiritona from Ngwathe Local Municipality to Metsimaholo Local Municipality, including the implementation of the necessary transitional arrangements.
Engagements have also taken place with Eskom and Rand Water to discuss the transfer of household accounts, billing arrangements and the allocation of outstanding municipal debt owed by Ngwathe Local Municipality to the two entities.
The presentations to the Metsimaholo and Ngwathe Municipal Councils on Thursday 29th October, will provide an opportunity to apprise councillors of the progress made, the transitional measures being prepared and the work undertaken by the respective workstreams.
