A tense standoff unfolded outside the Mafube Local Municipality offices in Frankfort on Tuesday morning, as municipal workers, some of whom have not been paid for three months, blocked entrances and set tyres alight in a dramatic protest over unpaid salaries.
The demonstration, which began in the early hours, saw dozens of workers from various departments—including sanitation, administration, and infrastructure—gather to voice their fury at the ANC-led municipality’s failure to pay staff salaries since September. Protesters, clad in workwear and union T-shirts, chanted slogans and held placards reading “Pay Us Now!” and “No Pay, No Work,” while columns of thick, black smoke rose into the air.
At the heart of the protest is a bitter accusation from workers and union representatives: that the cash-strapped municipality has chosen to prioritize payments to external service providers over fulfilling its obligation to its own employees. “They are paying contractors for tenders while we, the people who keep this town running, cannot feed our families or pay our December bills,” declared one worker who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimization. “We have worked, but we are being treated like we are nothing.”
The Mafube Municipality, which encompasses Frankfort and the neighbouring town of Cornelia, has faced persistent financial distress, with reports of irregular expenditure, poor revenue collection, and a growing debt burden. However, this latest salary delay, stretching into a critical third month on the eve of the festive season, has pushed workers to a breaking point.
A representative from the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the region confirmed that the union had engaged repeatedly with municipal management over the crisis, with little resolution. “We have exhausted all internal processes. The workers are hungry, they are desperate, and they are angry. The municipality’s actions—or inaction—are inhumane and unlawful,” the representative stated.
Local police were deployed to monitor the protest to prevent any escalation or damage to municipal property. Municipal Manager, Mr. Thabo Nkosi, is expected to address the media later today, with pressure mounting for a clear plan to disburse the overdue salaries.
The protest has also drawn sharp political criticism, with opposition parties in the council labeling the situation a “total governance failure.” “This is what happens when financial mismanagement and misplaced priorities collide. How can a municipality function when its own workforce is not paid?” asked a local councilor from the Democratic Alliance.
The unrest in Mafube adds to a growing list of service delivery and labour protests across South Africa as the December holidays approach, highlighting the severe strain on local government finances and the human cost of administrative failure. For now, the workers of Mafube have made it clear: they will not return to work until they receive what they are owed.
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