ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula recently announced the party’s national working committee (NWC) had endorsed the reconfiguration of municipalities in the Free State as part of a local government action plan. The NWC had decided to intervene in seven municipalities where underperformance and instability have persisted for years.

These include Lejweleputswa, Letsemeng, Mafube Masilonyana, Moqhaka, Nala, and Nketoana

The changes are expected to take effect in the coming weeks as part of an accelerated process to replace underperforming municipal leaders.

UFS political analyst Dr Harlan Cloete said the ANC’s move was a deliberate effort to signal seriousness about renewal and accountability within the province. “This ANC appears to be drawing a line in the sand – with performance as the measure.

“If you look at the seven mayors, I’m not sure where they stand – but surely the ANC has applied its mind. It seems to have lost confidence in the ability of its mayors, as political heads, to ensure the right leadership is in place.

“In any municipality, if there’s instability at the political level, it spills over into the administration – and that, in turn, affects service delivery. Ultimately, it means the municipality cannot fulfil its mandate to serve the people.”

Growing pressure from opposition parties such as the MK Party and the EFF is pushing the ANC to act decisively, he added. 

The ruling party’s latest decision shows it wants to send a strong message to its supporters and voters that it is serious about cleaning up its act and making sure it delivers.

With local government elections only 18 months away, Cloete warned the ANC’s concern about losing voter support is justified. 

“They are scared they might lose the support because what we’ve also seen is the phenomenon of locally based parties rising to make sure that the local residents’ issues are brought to the table.”

Several affected mayors had resisted the ANC’s instruction to resign, escalating their grievances to the national leadership and questioning the legitimacy of the provincial decisions. Cloete called this refusal “a serious problem”.

The party made the right decision – because heads must roll and people must be held accountable, he added. Auditor-general reports have painted a grim picture of Free State municipalities for years.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs