Members of the DA, EFF and the Freedom Front Plus said the association has on several occasions failed to bring any form of stability to municipalities in the Free State. This, after Salga's Provincial Executive Officer, Zanoqolo Futwa, presented a damning report before members of the Provincial Legislature and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). 

Futwa, during his report before the House, indicated how a total collapse of financial controls, lack of accountability and consequence management, as well as increasing debts to service providers, has become characteristics of most Free State municipalities. He further outlined how a number of municipalities are still plagued by high vacancy rates, ageing infrastructure, and incomplete projects. The DA's James Letuka told the House that Salga does not seem to be doing much to rescue the situation.

"We cannot have a situation where our municipalities are in such dire straits, yet we have a ruling party and associations that are not doing anything about it. Residents in the province continue to be at the receiving end of a government that does not put its people's interests at the forefront".

Responding to Letuka and other concerns raised by oppositions, Futwa told the House that they are a team being put together to analyse municipalities and provide the necessary support.

He said there is a need to go to the budgeting forum and request that the current funding model be revised, to enable municipalities to spends their grants according to their respective needs. This after he earlier indicated that many of the municipalities in the province are still failing to draw up proper budget plans nor generate revenue and that they end up not using funds accordingly, such as the conditional grants.

"The situation in the Free State has deteriorated and questions regarding measures required to re-dress difficulties faced by municipalities cannot only be posed to Salga. Addressing issues faced by municipalities requires a collaborative effort," said Futwa.

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