This, after reports that its employees have embarked on a strike following the municipality's failure to pay February salaries. 

The party's leader, Patricia Kopane, says services in the towns of Jagersfontein, Philippolis, Reddersburg, Trompsburg, and six others have come to a halt due to mal-administration and the financial crisis experienced in the municipality. 

Kopane is calling on the provincial Cogta MEC, Oupa Khoabane, to take action against the municipality as reports of financial mismanagement and failure to make contributions towards employees' pension funds and medical aids still continues.

In an interview with OFM News yesterday, however, Municipal Manager Martin Kubeka refuted these allegations.

Kubeka said allegations that employees and councillors at the municipality have not been paid their February salaries are unfounded and that he has authorised salary payments and was certain that all the employees will receive their money in no time.

He maintained that 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.

Kopane says Khoabane's failure to place the municipality under administration when the party asked him to do so last year in June has led the municipality into a deeper financial rut.

She says the municipality does not only fail to generate income but fails to provide basic services such as water supply and refuse removal. 

Kopane says the municipality's debts continue to grow and it now owes Bloem Water more than R250 million.

"Kopanong has become a ghost town with a number of businesses moving from the area due to the collapse of basic services. This has led to a loss of jobs and economic activity" she added.

OFM News