ALSO READ: Free State municipality yet to pay over 450 workers

Unions and political parties have since demanded serious intervention by the provincial government to rescue the situation at the troubled municipality.

ALSO READ: 'Troubled Kopanong leadership must be blamed for financial crisis' - Samwu

The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu), as well as the political party Freedom Front Plus (FF+), have written letters to the Department of Cooperative Governance (Cogta) and Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela.

In a letter addressed to different officials, Imatu says its members have severely been prejudiced with the non-payment of salaries for the month of September, and the non-payment of pension fund contributions for years.

"We record that the non-payment of pension fund contributions is a criminal offence and where the management of the municipality will have to account hereto and/or face further legal actions herein.

"Please also confirm if there are any arrangements with Provincial Treasury to assist with the payments of salaries and pension fund contributions. 

"We record that on the 11th of October 2021 this trade union forwarded a letter to the MEC, Mr M Dukwana, to correct the illegal and unfair conduct of Kopanong Local Municipality to appoint and promote certain employees without following the municipality’s recruitment and selection policies. 

"Despite this letter, we have not received any response and therefore demand an urgent response," Imatu adds.

In another letter written by Samwu, the provincial secretary, Tiisetso Makhele, says the current team which constitutes a new term is unable and has no capacity and willingness to turn the tide. 

Makhele says the municipality continues to face various challenges in service delivery, administration, financial management and governance.

"We strongly believe that the province is empowered to invoke section 139(1) of the Constitution when certain jurisdictional facts are in place. 

"These are the failure or unwillingness of a municipality to fulfil an executive obligation, which has been evident with Kopanong Local Municipality for years.  

"Many of these challenges have recurred over long periods and have been highlighted repeatedly in the municipality’s annual reports and audit reports following the statutory annual audits by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA)," Makhele adds.

Andrian de Bruyn from the FF+ has demanded answers on payment, non-payment and equity shares for the final quarter of 2022.

The municipal spokesperson, Solomzi Phama, has always maintained that the municipality is struggling as it has more indigent people who are unable to pay for services whilst the revenue collection is slow.

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