Municipal workers broke windows and trashed streets in Parys on Friday after storming out of the Ngwathe municipality's offices following a salary dispute.
Free State police spokesman Captain Harry Nagel said about 300 workers protested.
“A case of malicious damage to property was opened.”
Nagel said reinforcements were sent to Parys and police were monitoring the situation.
The protest came after salary increases approved by suspended chief financial officer Tladi Mokoena were held back.
Ngwathe DA councillor Arnold Schoonwinkel said: “The workers walked out and trashed the streets.”
He said the municipality was without an executive mayor, municipal manager and chief financial officer. All had vacated their posts. Various people were acting in the posts.
Schoonwinkel said the current acting municipal manager was working from home after receiving threats.
Ngwathe municipal manager Norman Selai was suspended, but later resigned. Mokoena acted in his place, but was suspended for alleged maladministration.
ANC executive mayor Jonas Ramokhoase was asked to vacate his post by his party after about four months in the seat earlier this year.
“We are in an administrative and political vacuum,” said Schoonwinkel.
External forensic investigators were looking into the affairs of the Ngwathe municipality, he said.
The municipality includes the towns of Parys, Vredefort, Heildron, Koppies and Edenville. – Sapa