Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Alison Oates and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Ana Motaung.
With the next equitable share tranche due in December, the DA in Maluti-a-Phofung is demanding answers on the circumstances that led to National Treasury withholding the municipality’s allocation earlier this year and what measures are in place to ensure another salary crisis is avoided.
At the end of July 2026, Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality could not pay salaries on time after the national government withheld its equitable share allocation due to several financial management issues.
To ensure this does not happen again, the DA has asked in the last two Council meetings for information on the reasons for the previous delay, as well as National Treasury’s requirements to avoid future delays.
The last delay in salaries had significant effects on municipal service delivery, as many workers downed tools, and of course on the employees themselves.
This information has not been forthcoming. The Municipal manager says he refuses to answer to the DA as he is only required to answer to Council. The mayor has fired the Member of the Mayoral Council responsible for finance and has not replaced him, so no Section 80 workshops are held to interrogate financial issues.
Local media have reported that the mayor has threatened legal action against the Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer if they use the Equitable Share allocation to pay salaries. He has also claimed he will reduce the municipal labour force and drastically increase municipal revenue.
There is no indication that this is happening to such an extent that the Equitable Share will not be needed to meet salaries.
This mad hatters tea party is peddling fiction, but it reflects the chaos in Maluti-a-Phofung Council and the municipality. We encourage voters to vote for the DA, a party with experienced and trained councillors ready to assume oversight of the municipality.