The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it will lay criminal charges against 10 municipal managers serving in nine municipalities across South Africa, including four in the Free State, over persistent failures in financial management and accountability.
Free State municipalities among those targeted
In a list made public by the party, the municipal managers named from the Free State are:
- Masilonyana Local Municipality — Majalefa Matlole (appointed October 2023) — record: a decade of disclaimed audit opinions.
- Nketoana Local Municipality — Mokete Solomon Nhlapo (appointed January 2023) — record: seven years of disclaimers and five persistent material irregularities.
- Mohokare Local Municipality — MS Mohale (acting; first appointed 1 December 2023) — record: three years of disclaimed audits and seven material irregularities.
- Maluti‑a‑Phofung Local Municipality — advocate MM Mofokeng and Dr FP Mothamaha (appointed November 2024 and March 2020 respectively) — identified by the DA as one of the worst performing municipalities in the country.
The DA’s action comes amid long-standing concerns about municipalities receiving adverse or disclaimer audit opinions from the Auditor‑General, signalling that financial statements cannot be relied upon.
Scope of the DA’s allegations
According to the DA’s briefing, the full list of municipal managers targeted spans nine municipalities in several provinces, including the Eastern Cape, North West and the Western Cape, with multiple cases of consecutive disclaimer opinions recorded.
| Municipality (province) | Manager | Highlighted record |
|---|---|---|
| Masilonyana (Free State) | Majalefa Matlole | 10 years of disclaimer audit opinions |
| Nketoana (Free State) | Mokete Solomon Nhlapo | 7 years of disclaimers; 5 material irregularities |
| Mohokare (Free State) | MS Mohale (Acting) | 3 years of disclaimers; 7 material irregularities |
| Maluti‑a‑Phofung (Free State) | Adv. MM Mofokeng; Dr FP Mothamaha | Listed as one of worst performing municipalities |
Allegations linked to service failures
The DA referenced specific instances where audit findings have translated into tangible service delivery failures. In one example cited by the party, the auditor‑general found a municipal manager personally liable for R4.6 million in an inflated water‑tanker contract, while residents were left without reliable water supply. That contract has reportedly been referred for criminal investigation.
“The officials had overseen municipalities that had repeatedly failed to account to residents, with longstanding disclaimer opinions and material irregularities,” the DA’s parliamentary leader George Michalakis said in a statement.
The DA said it will pursue criminal charges where it believes there is sufficient evidence of misconduct, gross negligence or maladministration that warrants police investigation and possible prosecution.
What this means locally
For residents of the affected Free State municipalities, the DA argues that pursuing criminal charges is intended to hold individuals accountable and deter future financial mismanagement. Critics will watch to see whether the action leads to arrests, formal charges and prosecutions — or whether the cases stall without criminal referrals from the South African Police Service.
The steps the DA plans to take next were not detailed in full. The party’s announcement follows years of adverse findings in municipal financial statements compiled by the Auditor‑General and highlighted in parliamentary oversight debates and provincial oversight processes.
Background on disclaimer audits and material irregularities
An auditor’s disclaimer opinion is issued when there is insufficient evidence to provide any assurance on the financial statements. Material irregularities indicate significant departures from laws, regulations or sound financial management. Both findings typically trigger further oversight, remedial action plans and, where necessary, disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
How quickly investigations proceed depends on the evidence presented to SAPS, the quality of any criminal referrals by the auditor‑general or the relevant accounting officers, and the resources available to investigators and prosecutors.
The DA’s announcement puts renewed focus on municipal governance in the Free State. Stakeholders — including provincial government, metro and district councils, auditors and civil society — will be watching whether the referrals lead to concrete outcomes that improve accountability and restore public trust.
For now, the DA says it will lodge the criminal complaints as part of its oversight strategy; whether that produces convictions or systemic reform remains to be seen.
