The Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) says they are aware of a voice note doing the rounds alleging there will be a phase 2 of the shutdown, beginning Sunday at midnight (30 May) and therefore distance the movement from said voice note. The MCC stresses that until all residents agree to a shutdown via their respective community forums, there will be no shutdown. 

The organisation is continuing to engage community members regarding the outcome of negotiations made with the Free State Provincial Government and Mangaung Metro on their list of demands.

The MCC has already met with residents in Phase 6 and Bochabela townships to report back on the series of negotiations between the relevant stakeholders. The residents reportedly welcomed the report and agreed that the shutdown remains suspended unless negotiations fail. 

The statement comes as Mangaung Municipal Manager, Tankiso Mea, attempted to appeal the council’s decision to suspend him in the Bloemfontein High Court on Thursday. Mea and Mangaung struck a deal before the matter could sit in court agreeing that the embattled MM will continue his voluntary leave, pending an investigation into alleged misconduct and maladministration.

OFM News previously reported that Mea was represented by Adv. René Bester, who says the Mangaung council jumped the gun in suspending Mea. She says the council could only suspend her client after considering the results of the investigation into his alleged misconduct and administration. She goes on to say that even the decision by the council virtually, shows the council sitting was flawed because the proceedings should have taken place privately, at a committee sitting as laws and regulations stipulate when dealing with a senior manager. Interestingly it is revealed that the sitting was meant to discuss the proposal of an acting manager, since Mea was on leave already.

At the time, the council was under pressure to suspend Mea, following protest action in the metro over service delivery concerns and tenders awarded by the metro, amongst others.

OFM News