The offices of embattled Masilonyana Local Municipality in the Free State are open again after they were forcefully shut down by residents last week.

The troubled municipality has recently made headlines for poor service delivery and inability to pay workers on time. OFM News reported services were brought to a standstill last week after residents of Theunissen closed municipal offices.

Residents demanded the mayor of the cash-strapped municipality, Dimakatso Modise, to vacate the office due to poor services including lack of water supply in some areas of Theunissen. Some areas have been without water for eight years. OFM News sent questions to the municipality but did not get any response. 

Health services were also halted after the clinics in the area had to close for the day due to a lack of water. It’s also understood that the water tankers placed at the clinics carried water that was not good for consumption.

Masilonyana, which also operates offices in Brandfort (now Winnie Madela Town) is one of the municipalities that could be incorporated into the Mangaung Demarcation board to try and improve services for residents.

OFM News/ Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg