South African municipality on the verge of total collapse

The Masilonyana Municipality is on the verge of total collapse, as service delivery failures and lawlessness threaten residents and businesses.

This is the warning from David McKay, the Democratic Alliance’s Spokesperson for CoGTA in the Free State Legislature.

Masilonyana Local Municipality is situated in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State province, South Africa.

It is located between Bloemfontein to the south and Welkom to the north, and the municipality’s seat is in Theunissen.

Masilonyana has five main urban centres: Theunissen, Brandfort, Winburg, Soutpan, and Verkeerdevlei, and a population of 63,800 residents.

Mining is the largest contributor to Gross Value Added (GVA), accounting for over 40%, followed by finance and community services.

Agriculture and salt production at Soutpan’s salt pans also contribute to the Masilonyana Local Municipality’s economy.

Masilonyana has been characterised by severe, long-running administrative, financial, and service delivery failures.

This has worsened after a strike crippled municipal operations, leaving Winburg, Theunissen, and Brandfort without water, electricity, and essential services for weeks.

A leadership vacuum is exacerbating the situation, with no permanent Municipal Manager or Chief Financial Officer.

“Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae continues to insult residents by dismissing their suffering and hiding behind empty political rhetoric,” said McKay.

“The devastation has now spilt over into the private sector. Rogue elements are intimidating private sector workers and forcing businesses to close.”

He said that employees in the private sector are being threatened with losing their jobs, strangling the local economy and pushing families to the brink.

“In Theunissen, the financial office was forcefully shut by rogue employees, and now the strike’s lawlessness is suffocating both public and private life,” he said.

“The Masilonyana Municipality’s collapse is not an accident, and the Premier’s attempts to sugarcoat the situation are an insult to residents.”

He said the problems are a result of years of mismanagement, political infighting, and a disregard for residents’ constitutional rights.

McKay called on the Free State Government to take action to rescue Masilonyana Municipality from collapse.