The DA’s Leona Kleynhans said the news was revealed by the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ketso Makume, at the portfolio committee meeting. 

He detailed that only 8 of the 23 municipalities have a qualified permanent Municipal Manager. Only 11 of the municipalities have a permanent and qualified CFO, only 13 have a qualified Director of Technical Services, and only 4 have a qualified Town Planner. Due to this, the department has had to second 14 officials to assist at some of the municipalities.

Kleynhans added on top of the vacant senior positions, the municipalities in the province owe R27 billion to creditors, of which R18 billion is to Eskom. Municipalities are owed R21 billion by consumers, including the government. 

“Makume complained that municipalities ignore directives and instructions, and defy legal obligations to submit prescribed reports such as Annual Financial Statements, Annual Reports, and mandated monthly reports. Most municipalities have budgets that are not funded, and then furthermore do not table funding plans indicating how they will fund their expenses. Most municipalities also do not have credible billing systems and revenue collection is disastrous. 80% of the sewage in the Free State flows untreated into our water resources, while directives from the Department of Water and Sanitation, and even court orders, are simply ignored,” said Kleynhans.

ALSO READ: Mangaung MM position re-advertised, again

The Bloemfontein-based Mangaung Metro has advertised the municipal manager post numerous times, but it remains vacant. OFM News reported in March 2023 that the metro is set to appoint its manager after failing to do so in late 2022. According to the job advertisement, the successful candidate will be in office for the next five years, with a total annual remuneration package of R1 671 343 (minimum); R2 025 870 (midpoint); and R2 380 395 (maximum). The candidate will be the current acting municipal manager Tebogo Motlashuping’s successor.

Before Motlashuping, the metro had at least three acting municipal managers in 2022, with Motlashuping being the one acting the longest within that period. The current job advertisement that will be closing on 27 March 2023 will not be the first time the position has been re-advertised. The metro found itself changing managers after Sello More was axed in January 2022, with only a few days left on his contract. To date, More’s removal from office is still explained to be unusual, as the motion to remove him was introduced by a council. At the time, a close source to OFM News stated the council should have issued a letter to More to suspend him, pending an investigation.

ALSO READ: R17 billion owed to Eskom by Free State Municipalities

As of August 2022, 16 Free State municipalities collectively owe Eskom over R17 billion for services rendered. Provincial Eskom’s spokesperson, Titi Makhetha, said the amount owed by municipalities has increased by R2.6 billion since August 2021. 

In a media statement, he explained that Eskom supplies electricity to municipalities who then sell it at a profit to customers. “Despite municipalities receiving government grants for free basic electricity, their current accounts and debt in arrears remain unserviced, bringing Eskom Free State to its knees.” 

The top three owing municipalities are the Maluti-A-Phofung, Matjhabeng, and Ngwathe Local Municipalities. On average, they consume R200 million (97GWh) of energy monthly. “To date, these municipalities have brazenly increased their debt to Eskom to R13.3 billion.”

OFM News