The Welkom-based municipality, which has for years battled deteriorating infrastructure, financial instability, and service delivery failures, is now facing fresh criticism over allegations of political interference, toxic labour relations, and worsening financial mismanagement.

Municipal workers’ union Samwu in the Lejweleputswa region has, on numerous occasions, accused Matjhabeng mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha of leading the municipality “with an iron fist”, claiming employees feel increasingly victimised and unprotected.

Political interference

Samwu regional secretary Shwani Mohale had said political interference and inconsistent disciplinary procedures were creating divisions within the institution. 

“The political meddling in administrative processes has created perceptions of bias, favouritism and discrimination within the municipality. Such inconsistencies undermine management’s legitimacy and erode trust among employees.”

The concerns were echoed during a provincial legislature sitting where the intervention team deployed to Matjhabeng presented a damning assessment of the municipality’s financial state.

Former Free State MEC Makalo Mohale, who leads the intervention team, accused municipal leadership of resisting cooperation with provincial efforts aimed at stabilising the struggling municipality. Presenting the report, Mohale said the collapse of financial management remained the core reason behind the municipality’s ongoing crisis and deteriorating services.

“Municipality made it clear they will not listen to the intervention team and its business as usual with taxpayers’ money continuing to be mishandled,” he said.

Debtors’ book

Matjhabeng’s creditors increased by R3bn while the debtors’ book grew from R8bn to more than R9bn despite the intervention, said Mohale, who criticised continued spending and alleged irregular appointments linked to the Expanded Public Works Programme.

“The municipality was advised to terminate irregular appointments to correct and recover the money and take that money to service delivery. There was a moratorium to say don’t employ.

Do as they wish

“We fought with the municipality because, despite the moratorium, they issued posts in excess of 200 in February. We made a lot of noise, they decided to halt, but we don’t know for how long cause they do as they wish.”

Mohale alleged the municipality failed to refer matters to the Special Investigating Unit and was continuing to lose court battles linked to illegal fees and faulty billing matters. “More than one hundred cases have only settled four cases for meters.”

Responding to the allegations, Khalipha rejected claims the municipality was refusing to cooperate with the intervention team. “Chairperson, there is a question raised by this house that we are not cooperating. I don’t think I understand when you mean we are not cooperative. What is the meaning of that.”

A meeting convened by the Free State premier in Bloemfontein had already outlined how the intervention team and municipality should work together, he said. “We all agreed how we must work, and since that time we have implemented what was decided by that meeting.”

Mohale had regularly met with municipal management and said the only meetings he had not attended were mayoral committee meetings, Khalipha said. He dismissed criticism from the organisation Matjhabeng Gatvol, describing it as a newly formed political party preparing to contest elections.

ANC MPL and chairperson of the joint committee on public accounts and finance and cooperative governance, Oupa Khoabane, urged the mayor and senior officials to reflect on the concerns being raised.

“We are well aware that this institution, when you came in, was at a level where, when you look at it, you see a crime scene. Your presence in this institution became a paradigm shift from that problematic environment, ushering in a new, whole culture together. Key to that culture was discipline in the institution.”

Khoabane, however, warned leadership needed to avoid allowing personal conduct to negatively shape perceptions of the municipality.

Comparisons

“This is the reflection that you have to take and say moving forward, how do we build better relations?” he said.

In one of the strongest moments of the sitting, Khoabane drew direct comparisons between the municipality’s current tensions and anti-apartheid protests in Welkom during 1983.

“The MM will remember that in 1983 November, here in Welkom, we protested against the changing or installation of what we call puppet council leadership at that time, and all issues that we raised at that time are the issues that people are raising now,” he said.

Decades of neglect have left Matjhabeng struggling with failing sewerage infrastructure, water treatment problems, persistent water shortages, deteriorating roads, and widespread frustration over billing systems.

While the municipality has secured funding for infrastructure upgrades, including repairs to pump stations and sewer treatment plants, residents and opposition parties continue to demand urgent accountability and visible improvements in service delivery.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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