Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jose Coetzee and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Setsoto will submit a formal letter to the Municipal Council calling for the immediate recovery of millions in unpaid municipal service fees unlawfully owed by officials and councillors. Shocking revelations in the latest Annual Performance Report shows that Setsoto officials and councillors are flouting the law while residents suffer the consequences.
The report outlines that municipal officials and councillors owed a total of R2 740 029.48 in the 2023/2024 financial year, which has been reduced to R2 578 222.00 in the 2024/2025 reported period, representing a mere 5.91% adjustment in funds received. Shockingly, this amounts to only R161,807.48, which was recovered during that time, a negligible amount, given the scale of the debt.
As per the most recent figures:
- Municipal officials currently owe R2 425 653.82 &
- Municipal councillors owe R152 568.18
This is not only unethical but also unlawful. In terms of Section 10 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000): “A staff member of a municipality may not be in arrears to the municipality for rates and service charges for a period longer than three months, and the municipality may deduct any outstanding amounts from a staff member’s salary after this period.”
The continued failure by Setsoto to enforce this legislation and recover these debt amounts to a deliberate disregard for the law.
When DA councillors questioned municipal leadership during a recent council meeting, the responses received were vague and evasive, with no clear action plan or timelines provided. This raises serious concerns about the municipality’s willingness to hold its own staff accountable.
Residents are being sent final notices and having services cut for non-payment. At the same time, municipal officials, who are legally prohibited from owing money to the municipality, are allowed to default without consequence. This is a blatant case of double standards.
The DA has since submitted a formal letter to the Municipal Council, demanding:
- A detailed breakdown of outstanding amounts by individual for the past 24 months.
- Any arrangements currently in place and enforced.
- Proof of compliance in terms of the Municipal Systems Act (Schedule 2), section 10.
The DA insists that no one is above the law, especially not those entrusted with managing municipal finances and services.
Residents cannot be expected to carry the burden of a system where financial misconduct by municipal staff and councillors is tolerated.