It's about three weeks now since employees of the Maluti-A Phofung-(MAP) water entity - MAP Water - indicated their concerns.

Initially, they were combating for their monthly salaries which were not being paid. They refuse to work because of a payment dispute. These circumstances led to poor service delivery to residents.

Intabazwe residents in Harrismith are fetching water from a burst pipe, as none of the municipal workers is willing to perform a job. The municipality has issued a statement apologizing to the residents for the delay in service delivery.

One of the employees, who didn't want to be named for fear of victimisation, says the municipality doesn't take them seriously as employees. She says their payments are being deducted for third parties.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State has warned the municipality of not taking care of its workers and the residents.

Allison Oates, DA councillor in the Thabo Mofutsanyane district municipality, says the municipality has now collapsed entirely.

"The municipality has now collapsed completely, with the back account being attached by creditors" says Oates.

She further says the DA's provincial spokesperson, Leona Kleynhans, has written to the office of the premier about this matter asking for a possible solution.

OFM News/ Tumelo Khotha