Describing the revelations as “a political earthquake”, the Youth League has called for urgent interventions, mass dismissals, and even criminal investigations into what it calls “a graveyard of public administration”.

The AG’s report paints a grim picture of local governance in the Free State. Of the 22 municipalities, six received unqualified audit opinions, yet were flagged for weak internal controls and financial instability.

Eleven received qualified opinions, indicating significant issues in financial reporting. Masilonyana, Maluti-A-Phofung, Mohokare, and Nketoane received disclaimers. The AG could not verify even the most basic financial figures. One municipality failed to submit its financials on time. None received a clean audit.

Ancyl Free State chairperson Junior Lehlehla called for heads to roll, asserting that service delivery has collapsed under the watch of incompetent officials.

“We have seen through oversight visits, and we have also seen on the ground that services are not being provided for our people, and our people are suffering. This has led to young people in the main being subjected to alcohol abuse, being subjected to gender-based violence, and being subjected to drugs because there is nothing that is happening.”

Lehlehla accused deployed ANC officials and municipal bureaucrats of turning a blind eye to the crisis. He warned that the Youth League will not hesitate to escalate matters, including taking legal steps.

“We have said to the ANC, that’s why I came to the Provincial Working Committee, to say if they are not changing the status quo, we will go to different police stations and ensure that we submit that these people must be investigated and these people must be locked up.”

Lehlela described the state of local governance in the Free State as “a diagnosis of a failed state”.

“These institutions are not merely dysfunctional; they are hostile to people. They are parasitic. They exist to serve tenders, not society. We are dealing with a total internal breakdown of constitutional governance.

“We are not scared to say this publicly. The Youth League refuses to protect criminals who use the ANC to commit economic treason. The people looting municipalities are not comrades. They are enemies of the people. They have declared war on the poor.”

He pointed specifically to the Lejweleputswa District Municipality as “a model of collapse”, citing a total lack of oversight, consequence management, or meaningful service delivery.

The AG’s report also found 58 irregularities in the province, encompassing theft, corruption, wasteful expenditure, and systemic noncompliance. The Youth League noted no disciplinary action has been taken in most of these cases, calling it not just incompetence, but pure impunity.

Ancyl Provincial Secretary Jackson Mthembu referred to a Free State High Court ruling, which found the Matjhabeng Municipality violated its constitutional duty to provide basic services. The court also ruled that the Free State Premier and provincial executive had failed in their duty to intervene under Section 139 of the Constitution.

“That judgement was a political bombshell,” Mthembu said.

The Youth League has now called for the dissolution of several municipalities, including Mangaung, Matjhabeng, Lejweleputswa, Nala, Masilonyana, Dihlabeng and Maluti-A-Phofung.

The Youth League says these councils no longer serve the people but have become “protection units for thieves”.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs