Following a proclamation in the Government Gazette by President Cyril Ramaphosa authorising the unit to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration, and the awarding of tenders in the municipality, the official opposition in the province says it welcomes this in-depth investigation. 

The party’s Leona Kleynhans, in a statement, says they have been raising concerns about the collapse of governance and financial management in this municipality way before it was placed under administration in 2018. She alludes that the state of the municipality remains appalling, despite being under the provincial care and its former mayor Vusi Tshabalala being forced to resign.

The party highlights that the water and electricity crisis still faced in the municipality is a clear indication of how the municipality has not dealt with key issues hindering service delivery.

“The DA trusts that those guilty of misappropriating grant funding, electricity revenue, and disaster funds will be brought to the justice they deserve,” said Kleynhans.

OFM News on Monday reported that the municipality, whose property was recently seized by Eskom and its bank accounts frozen due to non-payment, has for years been accused of maladministration and that it owes the bulk of the R12 billion owed to Eskom by Free State municipalities.

OFM News