During a council meeting at the metro’s headquarters, African Alliance of Social Democrats Cllr Lucky Mongale warned against continued delays in training and filling posts. Keeping economic opportunities in Mangaung is vital.

The ailing metro had announced a recruitment drive to fill more than 400 vacant posts, mainly at general worker level. 

The recruitment process, reportedly set to be implemented in phases, aimed to fill about 450 general worker positions across various departments.

These departments have been severely affected by high vacancy rates, up to 56%, particularly in technical and social services such as solid waste management.

“We are not going into 2027 with the same story that positions are vacant, training is yet to be done, and people are not being trained,” said Mongale. “The issue of supply chain in Mangaung, being dedicated to the people of Mangaung, cannot be overemphasised,” he said.

“I think that even if you disagreed with me in past years, now that you are going into elections you will only agree with me because you are going to get your votes from the people of Mangaung, so you need them in this process.

“You can’t go to Limpopo and Gauteng to campaign (for elections in the Free State), so these people must be looked after.”

Prioritising local residents for employment opportunities would help address the metro’s growing problem of residents being unable to pay for municipal services, argued Mogale. Once people are given economic opportunities, they would be in a better position to meet their financial obligations.

Meanwhile, the metro’s financial position remains under severe strain. 

OFM News previously reported it’s owed approximately R13bn by defaulting consumers. Mayor Gregory Nthatisi outlined the seriousness of the municipality’s financial challenges.

While some of the outstanding debt is owed by government departments and businesses, he said, most are owed by households across Mangaung.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs