MCC leader, Themba Zweni, tells OFM News they have decided to boycott paying rates and services to the metro until the embattled council is dissolved, as opposed to organising a shutdown. 

The MCC now urges all residents in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba’ Nchu, Dewetsdorp, Wepener, and Soutpan to join in on the mass boycott until this particular demand is met. Zweni says the council is not properly managed and this is evident when looking at the state of the Free State metro’s finances. This is despite an unqualified audit being attained by the only metro under administration for the financial year ending June 2020.  

The MCC committee views revenue generated from rates paid as the source of the council’s “arrogance” and they now wish to cut that lifeline.

The MCC says, should the council not be dissolved within 12 days after 1 July, they will forcibly occupy the municipal and provincial buildings in Bloemfontein. This is because they are of the view that the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) does have the power to intervene and dissolve the council.

Meanwhile, Cogta head, Mokete Duma, previously told OFM News that the MCC previously staged a walkout from negotiations. Furthermore, he cautioned that it is not possible to dissolve the Metro owing to different reasons which are beyond the council’s control. Duma says the Metro, since being placed under administration, has seen improvements in its endeavour to address challenges that troubled it before.

“We have demonstrated that it will not be ideal to dissolve the municipality under the circumstances because the financial recovery plan has actually achieved a number of areas and we are in the right direction and if these things are required we will give them. We have given them a list of those things we have achieved through the intervention but in the main, they want the dissolution of the council, they can’t move on that one and if we don’t entertain the dissolution of the council it’s pointless for them to participate,” he adds.  

OFM News