This after reports that employees and councillors at the municipality have not been paid their February salaries. 

Municipal Manager, Martin Kubeka, told OFM News that the allegations are unfounded and that he has authorised salary payments and that all the employees will receive their money in no time. 

He says the non-payment of third parties is a thing of the past and that the municipality has for months been honouring their payment plans to third parties.

The Municipality is amongst the financially troubled Free State municipalities that owe Eskom and the water board millions. It is listed in the latest Auditor-General (AG) report as amongst the 18 municipalities that need urgent intervention.

It made national headlines last year when residents in Jagersfontein went on the rampage over a lack of water supply. Their protests saw businesses, health facilities and schools being shut down for months. 

Coupled with that, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) obtained an order from the Free State High Court to have the municipality’s assets attached for auction in efforts to ensure that the municipality settle outstanding pension funds after failing to do so for more than a decade.

Kubeka nonetheless maintains that the municipality has months ago agreed to pay outstanding pension fund contributions and remains committed to pay third parties.

The municipality, based in the Xhariep District, includes the towns of Bethulie, Edenburg, Fauresmith, Gariep Dam, Jagersfontein, Philippolis, Reddersburg, Springfontein, Trompsburg, and Waterkloof.

OFM News