The movement behind the planned shutdown says parents are advised not to send their children to schools, as taxis are also expected to not operate.

A delegation of the Mangaung Community Concern says they have tried several times to reason with top management of the municipality in meetings, however, that lead to nothing and just left them frustrated.

In an interview with OFM News, Motlatsi Makgatla, who is a representative of the concerned community group, said that they have been engaging with municipality for the past two to three months without any positive response with regards to their demands. He further states that after consulting community members, it was decided that they should embark on a total shutdown in Mangaung, so that their demands are heard and responded to.

The already cash-strapped metro – that is under administration - tightened security and hired a private security company to guard the municipal building following attacks that took place there last month. Mokgatla says hiring a private security company from out of town - to guard the Mangaung Metro’s headquarters - is proof of some of the irregular spending at the municipality. He says they complained about these tendencies of awarding contracts to companies from outside the metro.

According to Themba Zweni, another community member, the demands of residents of Mangaung include job opportunities, land, business opportunities, service delivery, and the fight against corruption. "The challenge with Mangaung is that there is no leadership. Political leadership, administrative leadership, and even in the financial recovery plan they admitted that. The auditor-general has pointed that out, that there is no leadership in Mangaung," Zweni explained.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi