Head of the Cogta Department in the province, Mokete Duma, told OFM News this weekend that Khoabane decided to institute a Section 106 investigation of Kopanong, under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), in the wake of over two-week long protest action by the municipal workers.

The development comes after the Kopanong municipal council placed Municipal Manager, Martin Kubeka, on a 30-day special leave last week pending the council’s own probe into maladministration allegations levelled against him by disgruntled employees. Head of the Cogta Department in the province, Mokete Duma, explains what the team will be focusing on specifically during their time in the Xhariep municipality. “They will also be focusing more on the financial recovery plan. Kopanong is one of the poorest municipalities in the province. By virtue of it falling under Xhariep, which is a dry area and therefore faces drought-like conditions” adds Duma.

Kopanong, which includes the towns of Trompsburg, Edenburg, Jagersfontein and Fauresmith, is reportedly in such financial ruin that it owes varied pension funds alone in the region of between R50 and R 60 million. Municipal workers downed tools on February 26 citing non-payment of salaries and third party contributions as the reason.

On Saturday, March 16, Kubeka declined to be interviewed by OFM News regarding his special leave and the subsequent investigations via text. He referred all questions to the Kopanong Mayor, Xolile Matwa.

The municipality and the union reached a payment agreement on the back of a June 2018 march, led by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), regarding non-payment of third party contributions despite deductions being made from salaries.

In the agreement the municipality promised it would pay over medical aid contributions to the tune of R4,1 million as a matter of urgency. They further committed to taking 40% of the municipality’s equitable share of revenue raised nationally. It would then be payed over towards pension and provident funds focusing on the contributions of retired employees and those near retirement first. Kopanong, however, reneged on this plan sparking the current outrage. It is believed that it is SAMWU that is calling for Kubeka’s head

Over the course of 2018 OFM News interviewed retired employee 65-year-old, Klaas Ruiters, and current employees Monamodi Maphalane and Phutheho Mosunkutu on how the non-payments have impacted their lives. Ruiters is unable to receive his money due to money owed to his pension fund. This situation has frustrated the man and his family to quite an extent.

OFM News