According to the DA, the municipality is failing to provide residents with adequate water and electricity supply. This, coupled with its inability to pay Eskom and its water board. 

A councillor within the municipality, David Ross, tells OFM News the party is now calling for an investigation into the financial management of the Nala Municipality and has written to Treasury and Cooperative Governance Departments to intervene. Ross says the municipality, by June 2021, had incurred unauthorised expenditure amounting to more than R121 million, and wasteful expenditure amounting to more than R40 million, despite being unable to provide basic services to communities. He adds the municipality’s inability to carry out its obligations threatens the existence of many businesses in the areas of Bothaville and Wesselsbron.

Ross’s statement over the lack of service delivery and financial mismanagement in Nala comes just months after a damning report by Stats SA. The report which focused on the Non-Financial Census of Municipalities indicated that the Free State - together with the Northern Cape, North West, and the Eastern Cape - has recorded an increase of pit latrine users.

The Free State’s Setsoto, Nketoana, Ngwathe, Metsimaholo, and Nala Municipalities are ranked among the top ten municipalities countrywide with inadequate sanitation.

Ross highlights “all these factors contribute to risk for businesses” in the area, which will ultimately contribute to high unemployment rates if they shut down.

Meanwhile, the municipality is yet to respond to OFM News’ inquiry.

OFM News