Municipal Manager of Masilonyana Municipality in the Free State is under fire after allegedly demolishing part of a municipal building classified as a heritage site.

According to the Mayor Dimakatso Modise, the municipal manager failed to get approval from the municipal council or follow the prescripts of the National Heritage Resource Act.

The Act prohibits any person from altering or demolishing any structure which is older than 60 years, except under the authority of a permit issued by the Provincial Heritage Authority.

Modise says the building was built in 1936, making it 89 years old.

Modise adds that the municipal manager has undermined the council and her office.

“What angered me is that this building is a heritage site. It’s been proclaimed and gazetted as a heritage site. And to my surprise as a mayor, these things are happening without my knowledge and without the accounting officer which is the MM notifying me, neither the council. I tried to contact councillors to try to check if they know what’s happenings in the offices. No one knows,” says Modise.