Bojanala was called to account after it failed to pay workers' salaries, leading to them attempting to torch municipal offices.

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) has called for action to be taken against those responsible for financial irregularities.

"While the provincial government has acted decisively by demanding consequence management against the municipal manager and the chief financial officer before it could intervene, the political leadership responsible for oversight has failed to hold these officials accountable resulting in the near collapse of the municipality," SANCO provincial chairman Paul Sebegoe said.

"The urgent deployment of new political leadership will strengthen the municipality."

The council has issued notices to municipal manager Pogiso Shikwane and chief financial officer Olga Ndlovu to state reasons why they should not be suspended after they allegedly misappropriated money meant for Rustenburg municipality but erroneously transferred to Bojanala by the provincial government.

ANA