Spokesperson, S’fiso Nyakane, says the operations comes in light of the alleged maladministration, fraud, and corruption at the municipalities valued at about R56 million. He says several documents were seized from different offices, but no arrests were made.

OFM News previously reported that the two municipalities are counted among the top ten municipalities countrywide with irregular expenditure in the latest Auditor-General report. They owe Eskom and water boards millions. Maluti-A-Phofung alone owes Eskom R2.8 billion, while Dihlabeng is over R190 million indebted to the power utility.

Maluti-A-Phofung had its mayor, Vusi Tshabalala, recalled by the ANC in the province earlier this year in May, following months of violent protests against the lack of service delivery and calls for his resignation. It is alleged that he ran the municipality into a state of disarray.

Dihlabeng, on the other hand, made national headlines following its mayor Lindiwe Makhalema's Facebook post where she called President Cyril Ramaphosa a “sellout”. The DA in the province has today sent a media statement stating their concerns over the state of this municipality amidst its growing debts.

The party has further lambasted the governing party for the mayor and her team of delegate’s current overseas trip. It is alleged the budget for the trip to Brazil and Singapore was never adopted by the council and that it will cost over R400 000 of taxpayers’ money.

The municipality is further facing looming scheduled blackouts due to non-payment to Eskom.

OFM News