The Greater Tzaneen Municipality Mayor, Gerson Molapisane shows one of the awards won by the municipality.
Municipalities in the Mopani District performed well at this year’s prestigious South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Moses “Big Moss” Maluleke Municipal Awards celebrating excellence in local governance.
The Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) emerged as one of the biggest winners, taking home four awards at the highly anticipated Annual Municipal Awards held recently at the Sasavona Game Lodge in Bela Bela.
Among the accolades, the Greater Tzaneen Economic Development Agency (GTEDA) earned special recognition for achieving a clean audit.
In total, GTM proudly claimed the following awards: Sustaining an unqualified audit; Avoiding unauthorized expenditure during the 2023/2024 audit cycle and successful in-house preparation of annual financial statements
These awards are a testimony of GTM’s commitment to financial integrity and effective local governance.
The Greater Giyani Municipality representatives walked away with awards in the following categories: In appreciation for Sustaining Unqualified Audit opinion; Appreciation for not incurring Unauthorized expenditure during 2023/2024 audit cycle; Appreciation for 100% MIG spending on initial allocation and receiving additional MIG allocation; for Spending more than 95% of the additional MIG allocation; and finally, award for improved council grading.
The municipality was represented by the Mayor Councillor Thandi Zitha, Speaker Cllr Ernest Mboweni, Finance Portfolio head Cllr Nkhensani Ndaba, Municipal Manager Mr Vusi Khoza and Chief Financial Officer Mr Fediam Nkuna amongst others.
SALGA has recognised Mopani District Municipality for its work in spending 100% of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant allocation as well as 100% on the Water Services Infrastructure Grant.
Finance MMC, Cllr. Nomsa Khandlhela accepted the awards on behalf of the Municipality.
Greater Letaba Municipality got SALGA recognition for Sustaining Unqualified Audit for the financial year 2023/24.
The awards, honour municipalities that have demonstrated excellence in financial management, governance, institutional capacity, leadership, innovation, and transformative service delivery.
This year’s event is particularly significant as it marks the first edition under the newly renamed awards, paying tribute to the late Cllr Moses “Big Moss” Maluleke, former Mayor of Collins Chabane Local Municipality.
Maluleke was widely regarded as a visionary leader committed to the development of municipalities and the upliftment of communities.
The 2023/2024 municipal audit outcomes have once again placed a spotlight on financial accountability and governance in Limpopo’s municipalities.
Only two municipalities, Capricorn and Waterberg District Municipalities, obtained clean audit opinions—a testament to their commitment to sound financial management and compliance with regulations. These municipalities were commended for their achievements, serving as examples of good governance and financial prudence in the province.
Since the inception of the SALGA Municipal Audit Awards in 2017, significant strides have been made in improving financial accountability across local government.
During the first awards session, no municipality obtained a clean audit, with only 13 municipalities receiving unqualified audits with findings. Over the years, the awards have evolved to recognize not just audit outcomes but also grant spending efficiency, leadership excellence, and innovative service delivery.
Municipalities in the Mopani District have consistently performed well at past awards. Local municipalities such as Greater Letaba and Maruleng, under the leadership of Mayors Dagma Mamanyoha and Tsheko Mosola respectively, have previously scored big in various categories. Their achievements highlight the importance of strong leadership, financial discipline, and dedication to community development.
The 8th edition of the awards marks a significant milestone in SALGA’s commitment to strengthening local government. The event brought together municipal leaders, government officials, and key stakeholders to celebrate achievements while also reflecting on areas that require improvement.
SALGA Limpopo emphasized the importance of these awards in promoting good governance, innovation, and improved service delivery across municipalities. “Recognizing and celebrating excellence in local government is crucial for inspiring continuous improvement and accountability,” said a SALGA representative.
The event served as both a celebration and a call to action for all municipalities to strive towards clean audits, effective service delivery, and impactful governance.
With the renaming of the awards to honour the legacy of Cllr Moses “Big Moss” Maluleke, the 2025 SALGA Municipal Awards was a momentous occasion, shining a spotlight on those who continue to shape the future of local government in Limpopo.
The Greater Tzaneen Municipality Councillors and officials at the Moses “Big Moss” Maluleke Municipal Awards ceremony.
Representatives of the Greater Giyani Municipality during the awards ceremony.
The Mayor of Greater Letaba Municipality, Dagma Mamanyoha with councillors and officials at the ceremony.
Representative of the Mopani District Municipality, Finance Member of the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Nomsa Khandlhela.