FS Municipalities Grilled by MPLS

Local News/ 07 November 2019, 10:45am / Molefi Sompane

Free State Legislature Building: Image supplied

Bloemfontein: The Public Accounts Committee of the Free state legislature have on Thursday, November 7 held head to head meeting with  the leaders of the Letsemeng Local municipality on various matters including their Audit report.

Members urged municipality to do things by the book adding that the cash trapped municipality may avoid worse audit in future.

Letsemeng experienced 7 months long protest by community and workers after the western Free State municipality failed to provide water and paying workers.

The ANC in the Xhariep had to deploy new mayor, the municipality hired new managers including Chief Financial Officer.

In their answers the Mayor, MM and CFO reminded the committee that all of them are new in their respective positions but they are working hard to ensure the smooth running of issues.

However, Letsemeng also added that it’s managers incurred the problems from the previous leadership.

Meanwhile, both DA and Eff members have told the Letsemeng to use the public funds for issues meant for service delivery.

Chairperson of the committee and ANC chief whip Vusi Tshabalala said it is important for municipality to priorities the needs of the community.

“While using public funds, remember that your community expects more. Please priorities the people’s needs,”he said.

After Letsemeng there was another head on meeting with Matjhabeng and Lejweleputswa.

Next week the committee will welcome Maluti-a-Phofung, a municipality that was led by Tshabalala before he was voted out by motion of no confidence.

A matter that resulted to the sacking of 16 ANC councilors.