Mangaung officials deny city on brink of collapse
City officials in Mangaung say government and big businesses are partially to blame for the city's financial woes.
This week the city was downgraded to junk status on Moody's credit rating, citing its deteriorating public finances.
The city's spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, accuses government for not paying the municipality money due to it
"As much as we are having out financial issues but the major culprits here is both the government and the big business to make sure sure that they really coming to the party, you know like paying the municipality," says Khedama.
Despite the negative outlook, Khedama says he is optimistic that there is a solution to the issues.
"We are optimistic that in the coming assessment the situation would have turned around."
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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State says it's unlikely that a turnaround strategy will be found unless the city mayor, Olly Mlamleli is removed from office.
The opposition party says its prepared to drag Mlamleli to court if the Speaker of the Free State's only metro doesn’t table a motion of no confidence filed by the party within seven days.
"The situation in Mangaung it is dire but if there is a correct leader, if there's leadership that will stand up and change the situation which means it can be on the right direction, " says Patricia Kopane, DA provincial leader.
"Let the administration of the municipality be taken away from the mayor and the municipal manager."