Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Anelia Smit and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Diphapang Mofokeng.
The DA will continue to monitor Nketoana Municipality’s handling of millions of rands in outstanding municipal accounts owed by municipal officials and councillors, and will apply pressure to ensure these debts are fully and timeously settled.
This follows the Nketoana Municipal Council meeting on Thursday, 27 August 2026, where Item 0538/08 was discussed regarding outstanding municipal accounts owed by municipal officials. It was shocking to see that municipal officials employed by Nketoana Municipality collectively owe the municipality R7.4 million in arrears.
This is particularly concerning given that the extract from Schedule 2 of the Municipal Systems Act Code of Conduct for Municipal Staff Members states: “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 a municipality may deduct any outstanding amounts from a staff member’s salary after this period.”
The DA therefore questions why such a substantial amount was allowed to accumulate over such a long period without the necessary action being taken timeously. Under Item 057/08, the outstanding arrears owed by councillors were also discussed.
The total amount owed by councillors stands at more than R760 000. Of this amount, the current Speaker alone owes more than R680 000. This is extremely concerning to us as the DA. Councillors and municipal officials should set an example for residents by ensuring their municipal accounts are paid in full and on time.
We take note that a certain percentage is now being deducted from their salaries as repayment towards the outstanding debts. However, the question remains: why were these debts allowed to accumulate to such excessive amounts in the first place?
Financial accountability must start within the municipality, particularly when failures to collect money owed to the municipality can place further financial pressure on the institution and ultimately affect its ability to provide services to residents.
The DA will continue to monitor this matter and apply pressure to ensure that all outstanding municipal accounts owed by officials and councillors are fully and timeously settled.
Nketoana can only provide sustainable and effective service delivery to its residents if everyone meets their financial obligations to the municipality.
The residents of Nketoana deserve accountable governance, financial discipline and equal treatment.