Tension rose on Wednesday when ANC councillor Molefe Morutse was sworn in as the new mayor during a council sitting in Mahikeng. 

This appointment has sparked further controversy as another ANC councillor, Mazwi Moruri, who was sworn in as mayor in January this year, adamantly claims that he still holds the position and disputes the legality of Morutse’s election. According to Moruri, the council sitting that elected Morutse was unlawful.

Chaos plaguing the municipality

The dispute between the two ANC councillors has deepened the crisis in the troubled municipality, with accusations of misconduct and betrayal on both sides.

Morutse spoke candidly about the ongoing situation, emphasising the chaos that had plagued the municipality in recent months. He said that the council sitting had been moved to Mahikeng due to disruptions in Lichtenburg.

“We have been here before. There are two criminals who are calling themselves a speaker and a mayor in this municipality,” Morutse said.

“The worst thing is that it was very difficult for me to get in as a councillor. I am coming here as part of the intervention of the ANC to try and clean up a mess that is happening in this municipality. 

“Now these two criminals who are inside here don’t want to listen to their own organisation, these are two criminals who are calling themselves members of the ANC.” 

Morutse said that ANC councillors from the struggling municipality had formed a coalition with the EFF and smaller political parties to vote him in as the new mayor. Morutse further stated that his primary focus would be to address the pressing issue of non-payment of workers’ salaries, a situation that has caused significant unrest among municipal staff.

Meanwhile, Moruri, who was also in Lichtenburg at the municipality’s headquarters, insisted that he still held the title of mayor. He refuted claims of his resignation, describing the resignation letters, which had circulated in early March, as fake. 

According to Moruri, the letters, dated March 1st 2025, were forged, and he has already opened cases in response. 

Morutse reiterated that he is determined to restore order, and expressed his commitment to ending the corruption and mismanagement plaguing the municipality. “People are just coming here, they want to hijack the municipality, but that thing is the thing of the past. 

‘I’m here to fix things’

“They will never ever do it again. I think we are going to close this municipality for them, they don’t belong in this municipality. The people of this community have been complaining about them. 

“There is no service delivery in this town. Even in our locations, there are potholes all over. I’m here to fix things,” Morutse declared.

The growing instability in Ditsobotla has become a microcosm of the larger governance issues facing many municipalities across South Africa. The municipality’s cash-strapped status, combined with internal factionalism and allegations of corruption, has left residents frustrated and disillusioned. 

A few weeks ago, ANC in North West announced its plans to dissolve the municipality and merge it with surrounding municipalities. 

However, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in North West strongly opposed the proposed idea. Salga provincial chairperson, Khumalo Molefe, expressed serious concerns, warning that dissolving Ditsobotla would not solve its problems but simply shift them elsewhere.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh