The newly appointed mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr David Mutavhatsindi, says that improving financial management at the municipality is his main priority. He wants to see an improvement in terms of governance.

"The municipality has been receiving qualified audit reports for years and the situation needs to be improved," said Mutavhatsindi in an interview on Monday. He added that he would strive to ensure that there was good and clean accountancy at the municipality.

Mutavhatsindi said that he would first try and see to it that the municipal manager and CFO's posts were filled. "The posts will not just be filled, but will be filled by well-qualified and competent people," he promised.

He also indicated that ensuring better services to the people would be his focus. He said on Monday that he would try and ensure that residents of all areas that fall within the jurisdiction of the Makhado Municipality have basic services such as electricity, houses, water and other services.

"Together with the Vhembe District, we will strive to improve the quality of water. We are also moving towards a dynamic and progressive centre of socio-economic development by 2025," he said. Mutavhatsindi said that he would also try and ensure that employment relations at the municipality are improved. "The relationship between employees and the municipality is not good at the municipality and needs to be improved, as it affects service delivery," he said.

He urged all the residents of Makhado to get involved in the activities of the municipality in terms of planning. "Everybody must attend our IDP meetings. It is my responsibility to improve the involvement of minority groups. Together we can do more," said Mutavhatsindi.

Mutavhatsindi's qualifications include a master’s degree in government and political transformation that he did with the University of Free State in 2004. He also holds a diploma in executive leadership in municipal management, a bachelor of arts degree (cum laude), a bachelor of education degree (cum laude), a diploma in education (cum laude) and a post-graduate diploma in education management (cum laude).

Mutavhatsindi is a former principal of Nandoni Primary School. He served in several ANC structures before. He is a former Speaker of the Makhado Municipality.