It is not clear why speaker Davis Lengoabala owes the municipality and if it is a huge service delivery bill, but he got singled out in a report by the committee that was tabled in the Legislature. Several other recommendations for implementation by this municipality are set out in the report about the audit outcomes of municipalities in the Free State.

The committee found that the municipality did not follow tender procedures with several big expenditures, which include the purchase of a fleet of new vehicles for political office bearers. OFM News previously reported that this municipality is one of two in the province that was raided by the Hawks. This follows allegations of maladministration, fraud, and corruption at both municipalities amounting to about R56 million.

The committee has also taken a resolution ordering the municipal accounting officer to ensure that the appointment process of officials is finalised timeously and that the human resource requirements are adhered to and followed.

OFM News is waiting for the municipality’s response after sending questions.

Hawks spokesperson in the province, Sfiso Nyakane, at the time told OFM News that several documents were seized from different offices and no arrests were made during that operation.

OFM News has also previously reported that the municipality is among the top ten municipalities countrywide with irregular expenditure in the latest Auditor-General report.

The municipality further owes Eskom and Water Boards millions. Dihlabeng is indebted to the power utility with more than R190 million.

The opposition parties in that area have also lambasted the state of the municipality saying the Municipality is in a state of deterioration. This was according to the DA caucus leader, Gerrie Roetz, who said service delivery in the municipality is almost non-existent.

OFM News