The group - led by ardent critics of ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, namely former MEC in the Free State government, Sekgopi Malebo and ANC veteran, Isaac Moroe - says the demonstration’s aim to get the provincial government to deal with the nepotism, tribalism, and tender corruption was well-intended in light of the metro collapsing. 

Malebo and Moroe have also weighed in on the Mangaung Community Concern’s call for the Mangaung council to be dissolved, alleging that a significant number of the elected ward councillors are people who have resettled in Bloemfontein, whilst some allegedly have "questionable academic and citizenship documents”. The Mangaung Metro is yet to comment on these allegations. Malebo and company have condemned the violence that emanated from the unrest leading to the death of the 14-year-old learner, Liam Siegel, from the Heide Primary School in Bloemfontein.

“As the FS ANC Anti-Corruption Lobby, we strongly reject and condemn the reported criminal acts said to have accompanied some of the activities of the shutdown. However, we would like to place it on record that these criminal activities by opportunistic criminal elements must be placed right at the doorstep of the government which has for some time ignored the demands of the Mangaung Forum to effectively address corruption in the Mangaung Metro.

"We also regret the lives lost and injuries sustained during the shutdown. We therefore would like to offer our deepest condolences and wish a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries,” says the group.

For now, the situation appears to have normalised, pending the implementation of a long list of demands from Mangaung Community Concern. This includes investigations of irregularly awarded tenders in the metro, access to land, and dealing with corrupt and aloof government officials.

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