It’s understood that the police presence is to guard the council meeting Wednesday morning and make sure that all goes as planned. This was organised after threats of a possible disruption by a disgruntled group of people. 

The stabbing of former MMC for Transport, Patrick Monyakoane, by unknown assailants in 2021 also caused quite a stir about the safety of officials at the Metro. At least two police vehicles, including a Nyala and a truck, are stationed inside the premises. More police vans are also scouting the surrounding area.

The metro has seen several protests last year with residents marching to vent their frustrations about the lack of service delivery or alleged fraud and corruption at the metro. 

During the Metro’s mayoral inauguration last year, the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) handed over a memorandum of demands to the leadership of the metro, which was at that time led by the now acting City Manager (CM), Sello More. That was not the first time the group had marched to the premises of the metro. Earlier that year the group also staged numerous protests outside the premises and one of the demands was for the metro and Mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana to get rid of Monyakoane.

The MCC was not the only group that threatened to shut down the operations of the metro. The Mangaung Service Delivery Forum (MSDF) also staged numerous protests after allegations that most of the employees at the metro were not from Bloemfontein but rather a bulk of them came from Parys and other towns outside of Mangaung. The protests also lashed out at allegations of sex in exchange for jobs.

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