Central SA
Free State government raises concerns over continued disruptions at Matjhabeng─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 07:25 Thu, 28 Jul 2022
The Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has called for calm following riots that erupted at the troubled Matjhabeng Local Municipality after the alleged non-payment of contractors.
MEC Mxolisi Dukwana stated that the municipal administration has to deal with individuals who claim to have not been paid over rendered services. He said that the Matjhabeng municipal administration has to properly verify those claims so that they do not amount to irregular or fruitless expenditure.
OFM News reported that Matjhabeng municipal offices had to close earlier this week as the stand-off between the police and contractors was getting violent, resulting in police using teargas to disperse the crowd.
Dukwana further urged all affected parties to use legal and constitutional avenues to register their grievances rather than destroying public property and disrupting the administration and service delivery. He also stressed concern that the fifth administration at Matjhabeng and other municipalities should be able to work with communities, councillors, Cogta, and the Auditor-General to give effect to what the AG mentioned in her report of 2020/21.
