Central SA
Services affected as FS workers protest─── LUCKY NKUYANE 10:50 Fri, 24 Sep 2021
Another struggling Free State municipality continues to battle with serious challenges as workers have downed tools.
The Theunissen-based Masilonyana Local municipality announced to residents that its workers had embarked on a strike on Thursday. It said this has since led to the interruption of services. OFM News previously reported on accusations that the workers at the municipality were not paid on time in June and July 2021. The municipality said services that were affected by the protest included refuse removal.
Meanwhile, Theunissen residents in the municipality faced the interruption of water supply due to a breakdown of a motor and soft-starter for the main pump at the water treatment works. The municipality is yet to comment further on OFM News' inquiry.
OFM News previously reported that the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in the Free State said municipalities such as Masilonyana would not receive a helping hand for a bailout to deal with the financial stress.
At the time the Head of the Department, Mokete Duma, said the municipality had approached them for assistance regarding employees' salaries. He said despite the department being fully aware of the challenges facing this municipality, the department "won’t be able to bail them out this time". Duma said the department’s budget is constrained owing to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
OFM News