During a recent Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) briefing, MPs said the municipality was effectively being run into the ground by individual officials they described as “skilled to loot”.

The latest audit outcomes painted a bleak picture of the finances and governance in both Masilonyana and Mangaung Metro. The Theunissen-based municipality, in particular, has in recent years drawn sharp criticism from residents, law enforcement agencies and opposition parties, with concerns over its worsening financial situation and failure to submit proper records or financial statements for auditing.

MK Party MP Mandla Skosana delivered a blistering assessment of the state of affairs: It has been more than “five years without a CFO and municipal manager, like all these others, acting all the time, as usual.

“The issue of you wanting skilled people, I’m going to say it again and I’m not offending people who are educated … There are skilled people there, like at any other municipality. It’s just that they are skilled to loot, and I am saying that without any doubt.”

Skosana added qualifications meant little without accountability, pointing out many municipal officials had advanced degrees and professional certifications. “Some of the municipalities have officials with master’s degrees or chartered accountants running those municipalities.”

“Now, if you have an 80% loss, like my colleague just said now, when you say you can’t recover that money, what does that mean? Are you not condoning looting?”

Free State AG business unit leader, Odwa Duda, confirmed the municipality had once again received a disclaimer audit opinion, the lowest possible rating, citing chronic issues such as poor record-keeping and failure to submit financial statements.

“There are no plans to address poor record-keeping, their situation is getting worse,” said Duda.

Masilonyana failed to submit its financial statements for two consecutive years, prompting the AG to invoke special powers to force compliance. According to Gregory Coetzee, the municipality’s audit manager, Masilonyana received a disclaimer nine times over the past decade.

Since being placed under administration in 2022 by the provincial government, key leadership roles have been occupied by acting officials, with no permanent appointments.

The troubled municipality is also involved in legal battles. A former senior official, Itumeleng Mogaecho, has been involved in prolonged disputes with the council over unfair dismissal and labour practices.

Despite rulings by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council ordering compensation by October, Masilonyana has failed to comply, forcing the attachment of municipal vehicles to pay damages, a decision it is challenging in court.

In December, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided the municipality over allegations related to the refurbishment of the Brandfort water treatment works and other projects. 

Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer from persistent water cuts and electricity outages, with even healthcare facilities affected.

Adding to the criticism, DA MP and Scopa member Patrick George Atkinson said the municipality resembled a “crime scene”. “Masilonyana just seems to be an excuse to loot. They were using an alternative paying system …

“How is that even allowed? With only 12,000 voters, it’s smaller than one ward in Johannesburg. Is this municipality even viable? With 0% service delivery and sewage running down the streets, it’s ridiculous to even have this as a municipality. 

“The salaries paid to the CFO and other workers there should be regarded as essentially fruitless and wasteful expenditure.”

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg