The EFF in the Free State has raised concerns about the capability of individuals sent to intervene in the province’s struggling municipalities.

This critique came to light during the kickoff of the provincial week, spearheaded by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), held at the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein on Monday (17/9). Throughout the week, service delivery challenges will be closely examined, with the Free State Executive Committee expected to address these issues.

Free State ANC members of the Provincial Legislature. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

NCOP members, alongside representatives from the Auditor General’s office and provincial government leaders, will be inspecting incomplete projects, police stations, and abandoned initiatives in areas such as Matjhabeng and Mangaung to deliberate on the systemic issues affecting these municipalities.

EFF Member of the Provincial Legislature Malefane Msimanga questioned the effectiveness of the intervention teams deployed under section 154 and section 139 of the Constitution. He highlighted municipalities like Masilonyana, Nketoana, and Maluti-a-Phofung have consistently received disclaimers from the Auditor General, despite intervention measures.

“Masilonyana has been getting disclaimers for the past eight years, Nketoana for three years, and Maluti-a-Phofung for five years. In each of these municipalities, people were sent under sections 154 and 139 to intervene. But who is capacitating the capacitors? The situation in these municipalities has worsened after their intervention,” Msimanga said.

He questioned whether these individuals lack knowledge or they are acting as “economic hit men” as these municipalities continue to collapse.

The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Saki Mokoena, previously acknowledged the lack of capacity in Free State municipalities and pointed out municipalities such as Masilonyana and Nketoana struggle to attract and retain qualified personnel, leading to the administrative and service delivery challenges that have been repeatedly flagged by the Auditor General.

“These municipalities fall into a category where attracting qualified personnel is difficult, and the hiring process is often delayed due to various problems,” Mokwena explained. “We do send personnel to bridge the gaps, but we are working on further interventions to assist them.”

Msimanga also criticised the lack of consequence management in municipalities like Masilonyana. He noted Auditor General warnings have been consistently ignored, with no political will from leadership to hold anyone accountable. “We know by heart what the Auditor General will put in their report. Yet, we are not intervening effectively.” 

The embattled Theunissen-based municipality has been a frequent subject of negative headlines. Recently, its leadership became the focus of an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for alleged maladministration and fraud in tenders dating back to 2020.  While former legal manager Tumeleng Mogaecho also filed a lawsuit in the Bloemfontein High Court against Mayor Dimakatso Modise and the municipality’s leadership, demanding disciplinary action be taken against former Acting Municipal Manager Michelle Sello over allegations of financial misconduct.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi