Gregory Nthatisi made the allegations during a recent council meeting, where he called on councillors to focus on their responsibilities instead of political point-scoring. He was responding to concerns around service delivery challenges and issues of consequence management raised in the Auditor General’s report.

He made reference to Centlec’s replacement of transformers, warning the work would inevitably result in temporary power outages affecting traffic lights, homes, and surrounding areas. Nthatisi questioned why some councillors appeared surprised by developments that he said had already been reported in council.

‘Where is your mind?’

“You come in this council and act as if you don’t understand. It was reported in the same forum that I attended; where is your mind? Are you so oblivious that we tell you today and tomorrow you have forgotten? Animals rely on instinctive behaviour; they don’t think. Human beings, however, have what we call consciousness, and it reflects the richness of the mind.” 

He then turned his attention to the DA, accusing the opposition party of hand-picking its candidates instead of consulting residents.

“Only the ANC – and I want to speak to this instance of the DA speaker – goes to the hearts of the people and lets them decide who should represent them. 

“You can’t come here and hand-pick our people in the township, some with dubious old apartheid backgrounds or Bantu education histories, celebrate them, make them apply to be representatives, and then brandish them here and as a complete list when you know there was no consultation with the masses.”

Foreign funding

Nthatisi subsequently claimed some political parties were bringing foreign funding into local political contests. He specifically referred to money allegedly linked to USA president Donald Trump and Israel.

He challenged the parties to publicly distance themselves from what he described as “dubious money”.

“I want them to stand up in this council and deny they are using dubious foreign money. I’ve made that allegation; if they don’t agree, let them demonstrate they are not part of that dubious funding. I am saying here with authority that they now want to introduce some form of natural attrition.”

The claims come as political parties intensify their campaigning ahead of the local government elections. Mangaung is expected to remain a key political battleground.

Nthatisi is among the eight mayoral candidates announced by the ANC for the metro. The others are Thabo Manyoni, Bongani Lawrence Mathae, Theodorah Mosala-Leeuw, Lulama Otidi-titi, Malebo Sekhopi, Vusimozi Simon Sogaqa, and Motshewa Martha Tladi. However, the ailing Free State metro is amongst municipalities which failed to submit the ANC’s nominated candidate lists to the Independent Electoral Commission for the upcoming 4 November elections.

PA councillor John De Bruin also aimed at the DA and FF Plus, accusing the parties of paying greater attention to urban areas while seeking votes from township communities.

“I see the FF Plus only talks about the town – it’s very nice. The DA also speaks about service delivery only in town. Yet they need votes from our coloured and black communities. They don’t think about how our people suffer with pit toilets that are full, while they live comfortably here. The apartheid years will never fade until we can meet them on the next level.”

The political confrontation comes as Mangaung continues to face pressure over longstanding service delivery problems, particularly sanitation.

OFM News has previously reported on the metro’s ongoing sanitation crisis linked to the widespread use of pit toilets in areas including Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, and parts of Bloemfontein. Last year, deputy mayor Lulama Titi-Odili revealed the scale of the problem, with Botshabelo having the highest number of pit toilets, standing at 34,000.

The sanitation crisis has become a political battleground. Last week, EFF Mangaung mayoral candidate Sam Matiase visited Botshabelo West Section F with a team to assist residents with filled pit toilets following complaints raised during the party’s Motho Mothong campaign.

The visit followed concerns about the conditions faced by Mme Ntswaki Kotela and her family, who expressed appreciation to the party after receiving assistance with their pit toilet challenges.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg

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