The Free State government has decided that three of the province’s bigger district municipalities be placed under administration because they cannot perform their duties.
Free State premier Beatrice Marshoff said on Wednesday that the Motheo, Moqhaka and Phumelela municipalities had been informed that they would be placed under administration.
This follows a meeting of the Free State executive council on Tuesday.
Marshoff said the executive council’s aim now was to appoint competent councillors to stabilise these municipal administrations.
A report by the Free State legislature last week also recommended that the department of local government take over the day-to-day running at the Moqhaka and Motheo municipalities.
Moqhaka incorporates the towns of Kroonstad, Steynsrus and Viljoenskroon while Motheo includes Bloemfontein, Thaba’Nchu, Botshabelo, Ladybrand, Clocolan and Wepener.
The Phumelela municipality includes Vrede, Memel and Warden where clashes about alleged poor services delivery have made headlines recently.
Marshoff said on Wednesday that the decisions by the executive committee followed various reports by the legislature, auditor-general, the local government department, the National Council of Provinces and interviews done by her department.
Marshoff said the election of a new executive mayor and speaker by the Motheo municipality on Tuesday would be set aside by the decision.
Motheo recently sacked their mayor and speaker after a vote of no confidence from the council. – Sapa