The Masilonyana Local Municipality has been flagged as one of the worst-performing municipalities in the Free State, plagued by financial mismanagement, a collapsing water infrastructure, and systemic governance failures.
A recent oversight visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) revealed alarming irregularities, including the misuse of funds and a dire water crisis affecting residents. The municipality, which includes the towns of Winburg, Theunissen, and Brandfort (also known as Winnie Mandela Town), has been unable to recover 80% of its debt, with R194 million in conditional grants unaccounted for.
A “Complete Catastrophe”
Democratic Alliance (DA) Free State MPL David McKay described the situation as a “systemic rot” that has worsened over years. He revealed that the municipality’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) – responsible for investigating financial irregularities – has not convened since 2021.
McKay highlighted infighting between the mayor and municipal manager, as well as a chief financial officer (CFO) who was previously found guilty of financial misconduct in another municipality but was still appointed in Masilonyana.
Water Crisis and Infrastructure Collapse
Residents face severe water shortages, with McKay detailing how raw sewage flows into the Rietfontein Dam, which is also a source of drinking water. Due to contamination, the municipality has stopped drawing water from the dam, leaving communities without supply for days.
Aging infrastructure exacerbates the crisis. Burst pipes remain unrepaired because suppliers, unpaid for months, refuse to deliver parts. In some cases, disgruntled contractors have locked pump stations, cutting off water access entirely.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
McKay has called for immediate provincial intervention under Sections 154 and 139 of the Constitution, which would allow the Free State government to take over financial management or even dissolve the municipal council.
Despite promises from the Premier to address the crisis, McKay warned that the damage may already be too severe. “This should have been dealt with years ago,” he said. “Now, the rot is so deep that recovery will be extremely difficult.”
As residents endure undrinkable water, overflowing sewage, and crumbling services, pressure mounts on provincial and national authorities to act before the situation worsens.