The ANC in the Free State is continuing with sweeping leadership changes in struggling municipalities after resistance from some mayors and senior local leaders.

In November last year, the ANC provincial leadership instructed members of the troika made up of mayors, speakers and chief whips in troubled municipalities to step down due to ongoing failures in governance and service delivery. These include Mafube (Frankfort), Moqhaka (Kroonstad), Letsemeng (Koffiefontein), Nketoana (Reitz), Masilonyana (Theunissen), Nala (Bothaville) and Lejweleputswa district municipality.

Some mayors had previously refused to comply with the directive and escalated the matter to the ANC’s national leadership, questioning the legitimacy and rationale behind the provincial structure’s decisions. The affected troika members subsequently wrote to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula outlining their objections to the move.

Mbalula later confirmed the ANC’s national working committee had endorsed the reconfiguration of municipalities in the Free State as part of a broader local government action plan.

On Wednesday (20/5), Phindiwe Philadelphia Maseko was elected unopposed as the new mayor of Lejweleputswa during a special council meeting held at the Morogoro council chambers in Welkom. She replaced Veronica Ntakumbana. Maseko was nominated and seconded. With no further nominations received, she was elected unopposed.

MP Dikeledi Lereko welcomed Maseko’s appointment, saying the district municipality had long been plagued by controversy and governance concerns. The ANC’s intervention was necessary to address poor leadership in municipalities across the province. She also welcomed leadership changes implemented in other municipalities.

“In the Free State, we listened to the concerns raised by the people of Mafube and appointed what we call ‘the people’s mayor’, a mayor (Phaladi Matsoe) who is academically qualified with a B-Tech Degree in Agricultural Management. 

“This is important because Mafube is a semi-rural municipality where agriculture is one of the main drivers of the local economy.”

Meanwhile, Ramasimong Tau was elected as the new mayor of Moqhaka, replacing former mayor Motloheloa Ellis Mokatsane, who stepped down in April.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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