According to allegations, the official’s contract lapsed months ago, but he continues to go to work every day and receives a salary. The latest allegations follow several scandals plaguing the administration of the troubled Bloemfontein based Metro in the Free State. 

DA councillor, Mokgadi Kganakga, alleges the official was initially employed in the finance and business procurement unit of the controversial Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) Hauweng project on a contractual basis. She says the employer’s contract however lapsed in July 2020. 

Free State Cooperative Governance MEC spoke out on the troubles at the Metro currently under administration.

Cogta MEC, Thembeni Nxangisa, told OFM News that there is a clash of individual egos within the ailing Metro involving the administrators and municipal officials. Asked to respond to the latest allegations about an official who is working without an official contract, Nxangisa said he was not aware of the situation. 

OFM News sent detailed questions to the municipality, but has not yet received a response. Meanwhile, Kganakga said she wrote an official letter to the administrator to enquire about the situation and asked that the matter be addressed speedily.

Kganakga says the official’s duties of the “employee” includes the evaluation of the controversial IPTN contracts. If any of these contracts were to be signed and approved by the General Member without him having a valid employment contract with Mangaung, this could have dire legal consequences for the Metro. "Any legal cost implications at the Metro means the taxpayer will have to foot the bill – money that could have been spent on service delivery instead,” said Kganakga.

In December 2019 the Metro was put under administration after basic service delivery – amongst other issues – failed. Deputy Finance Minister, David Masondo, also indicated that the cash-strapped municipality is the only metro municipality that adopted an unfunded budget for two consecutive financial years - 2018/19 and 2019/20.

OFM News