SMMEs hampered by political and administrative battles in the FTLM

BURGERSFORT

Atleast three local SMMEs doing business with the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality have complained to this publication about their none payments.

The poor companies claimed they have rendered services at the FTLM but remain unpaid.

This none payments have also resulted in the abandonment of municipal projects, affecting service delivery within FTLM.
Some of those invoices dates back from September 2025 and early 2026.

The tenderpreneurs claimed only a selected group of business are affected by the freezing of payments.
According to one of the entrepreneurs, ever since the return of Municipal Manager MJ Makgata, their payments have been halted.

” We have discovered that there are payments that are prioritized by the municipality’s top administrative management, while others are ignored and not paid.

“It seems a selected group closer to the administration are being prioritized,” complained the entrepreneurs.


Some of those companies, allegedly getting top notch treatment, and being paid regularly are those linked to the top leadership of the ANC Sekhukhune Region.
The SMMEs alleged that Makgata and his team
seems reluctant to process payment done during his suspension.

“There is clear divisions between the political leadership and the administration team at the FTLM and this is badly affecting entrepreneurs and service delivery in local communities,” alleged the source.

Company owners also alleged attempts to schedule meetings with Makgata to interact and find out why they are not paid always fails.

” He hardly reports to the Burgersfort municipality offices, it seems he is avoiding SMMEs from Burgersfort,” they alleged.

This publication posed queries to the FTLM’s communications team, with regards to the alleged preferential treatment and the unpaid monies.
The municipality was yet to comment at the time of going to print.
This publication will do a follow-up when they decide respond.