The complaint centres on more than R16.3m in suspected irregular expenditure linked to the R51.2m refurbishment of the Thabong wastewater treatment works. The allegations appear in a forensic report, which calls for a wide-ranging investigation into Matjhabeng’s handling of Contract 07/2021.

The completed project was officially handed over on 22 March by water and sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina, her deputies, Free State cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Saki Mokoena and mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha.

The refurbishment formed part of a ministerial intervention intended to rescue the municipality’s deteriorating wastewater infrastructure after years of severe sewer spillages polluted rivers, damaged the environment and affected communities in Welkom, Virginia, Allanridge, Ventersburg, Odendaalsrus, and Hennenman.

At the height of the crisis, nine of Matjhabeng’s eleven wastewater treatment works, 42 pump stations and more than 400km of bulk sewer pipelines had either collapsed or become severely blocked. This resulted in raw sewage flowing through streets, residential areas and rivers.

The Public Protector South Africa’s Free State office confirmed it had received the complaint and launched an investigation in response to an OFM News enquiry. The investigation would include evaluating evidence, considering extension requests from affected parties and applying the relevant legal framework, the office said.

Where preliminary adverse findings are made, affected and implicated parties will receive notices in terms of section 7(9) of the Public Protector Act, read with the applicable investigation rules. They will then have an opportunity to respond before the public protector finalises the report, the office said.

‘Free State police confirmed they are investigating fraud, corruption and theft allegations’

A discretionary notice will instead be issued where investigators find insufficient evidence or no basis for adverse findings. Both types of notices allow affected and implicated parties to respond substantively to preliminary findings or conclusions before a final report is released, the public protector’s office said.

Free State police confirmed they are investigating fraud, corruption and theft allegations involving the possible misuse of public funds and billing irregularities linked to the project. The alleged offences occurred in March 2022 and were reported in January, provincial police spokesperson Sgt Palesa Thabana said.

Forensic evidence had recently been obtained, and the case docket would be submitted to court for a decision, Thabana said. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains under way.

The allegations add to mounting pressure on Matjhabeng’s political and administrative leadership, which has faced sustained scrutiny over governance failures, financial instability and deteriorating service delivery. Earlier this year, Free State Legislature members compared the current crisis with the circumstances preceding the 1983 Welkom unrest.

Former Free State MEC Makalo Mohale, who leads the provincial intervention team, blamed the municipality’s worsening position on collapsing financial management and resistance from municipal leaders. Creditors had increased by about R3bn, while the debtors’ book had grown from R8bn to more than R9bn despite provincial intervention, he said.

The municipality had been advised to terminate irregular appointments, recover the money and redirect it towards service delivery, said Mohale. Despite a moratorium on appointments, it advertised more than 200 posts in February before withdrawing them following objections from the intervention team.

Mohale also alleged Matjhabeng had failed to refer matters to the Special Investigating Unit and continued losing court cases linked to unlawful fees and defective municipal billing. More than 100 cases had been lodged, while only four meter-related matters had been settled.

Khalipha rejected claims that the municipality had refused to cooperate with the provincial intervention team. Residents and opposition parties continue demanding accountability as Matjhabeng battles persistent sewer spillages, unreliable water supplies, deteriorating roads, financial mismanagement and growing dissatisfaction with municipal services.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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