A group of leaders from the Mangaung Service Delivery Forum (MSDF) are currently inside the metro's premises after voicing their displeasure with the current development at the Metro. 

The group, led by its chairperson, Potso Motoko, briefly talked to OFM News on their way inside, saying they want answers on the ongoing debacle besieging the metro. Earlier, in a widely shared WhatsApp voice message, Motoko highlighted that they were set to meet with some officials to address issues raised with the metro previously. 

OFM News has on numerous occasions reported on the protests led by the group, who aimed to address the lack of service delivery, fraud, corruption and the lack of accountability at the metro, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Head of Department (HOD), Mokete Duma, arrived at the metro earlier on Monday to try and address the impasse.

"Leaders and compatriots of MSDF, we still have another challenge here. The Glasshouse has been shut and we don't know anymore what to do because there seems to be a huge challenge at the Glasshouse (municipal headquarters). So, we need to go there and find a way forward. Tell me how are we going to receive services and how things will get better with such issues? Because it seems as if this will be an ongoing issue. The Glasshouse has been shut because people are protesting over their salaries. They are busy leaking the metro's confidential documents. It has now become clear that the City Manager (CM) does not have our best interest at heart as communities and he is defying his leadership at the metro," Motoko said.

OFM News previously reported that services at the metro have been halted with irate political staff members engaged in a protest over the non-payment of their salaries. Residents have not been able to gain entrance inside the premises whilst the protests continue.

Also read: Services halted at troubled Mangaung

This morning, over 100 political staff members embarked on yet another protest and shut down all services at the metro, whilst demanding their payments. The protest by more than 100 people follows after a meeting with Duma, and acting City Manager (CM), Mzingisi Nkungwana, on Friday. Workers on Friday told OFM News they are yet to receive their salaries for February whilst those who got paid in January only received half of their salaries. The protesters, who are using cars to block all the entrances, have caused a halt to services since no one can enter or exit the premises.

Also read: Political staff protest at Mangaung after no payment - Video

The metro has been placed under administration in December 2019 for failing to perform its basic functions, which includes service delivery.

The metro, which was the first metro to be placed under administration in South Africa and also the first metro to adopt an unfunded budget, has been on the radar of National Treasury with several records of correspondence.

OFM News previously reported that National Treasury has allegedly told the cash-strapped Metro to reduce its number of Heads of Departments (HODs).

Also read: Treasury tells cash-strapped Mangaung to reduce HODs

OFM News has sent an enquiry regarding the payment of these salaries and the City Manager is yet to reply. The Head of the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mokete Duma, is also expected to respond soon.

Also read: Mangaung Metro employees to be paid

OFM News