The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) notes and cautiously welcomes the long-overdue decision by the Free State provincial government to place the Matjhabeng Local Municipality under administration in terms of Section 139(5) of the Constitution – an intervention that comes only after being ordered so by the courts. This development exposes the painful truth that without this legal challenge, rampant corruption and maladministration, and the complete collapse of services would have continued unabated.

This intervention follows years of catastrophic governance failures, financial mismanagement, and the systemic deterioration of essential services which have left municipal workers unpaid and residents without reliable access to water, electricity, and basic sanitation. While we acknowledge this as a necessary step towards stabilising the municipality, we must express our serious concerns regarding the continued presence of Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha, whose leadership has become synonymous with corruption, maladministration, and the deliberate undermining of municipal operations. 

It must be stated unequivocally that Matjhabeng’s current crisis stems primarily from Mayor Khalipha’s conscious decision to treat public resources as his personal property, disregarding both legal obligations and the needs of the community he was elected to serve. The fact that this intervention only materialised after court action by the opposition reveals the ANC’s fundamental failure in its oversight role. The glaring contradiction within the ANC-led provincial government’s approach cannot be ignored. 

While the ANC in the province has been fully aware of Mayor Khalipha’s alleged misconduct – including the misappropriation of public funds, violations of procurement processes, and the systematic deterioration of service delivery – they only acted when compelled by the courts. This shameful pattern of only addressing corruption when forced by external pressure demonstrates a lack of political will to genuinely clean its own house.

SAMWU has consistently maintained that Matjhabeng’s crisis extends beyond administrative failures to fundamental political dysfunction. The ANC’s reluctance to take decisive action against Mayor Khalipha, despite overwhelming evidence of his misconduct, reveals a troubling disconnect between the party’s professed commitment to clean governance and its actual practices. 

The workers of Matjhabeng, who have endured years of hardship, deteriorating infrastructure, and hazardous working conditions, deserve more than the bare minimum their government was forced to provide by the courts. They require substantive changes, beginning with the immediate removal of Mayor Khalipha and his replacement with a leader who prioritises public service over personal enrichment and political patronage. The fact that this intervention comes through judicial compulsion rather than voluntary action speaks volumes about the ANC’s failed leadership.

Furthermore, we insist that this court-ordered intervention must transcend temporary financial measures to implement a comprehensive restructuring of Matjhabeng’s governance systems. This process should include: eradicating systemic corruption; ensuring full accountability for all implicated officials; and guaranteeing that municipal workers – who have maintained essential services under impossible circumstances – receive their overdue salaries and are properly included in rehabilitation efforts. The community deserves a functional local government that serves their interests, not one that protects those responsible for its collapse.

The ANC now faces a crucial test of its integrity: will it finally prioritise the people of Matjhabeng, or continue to shield those who have betrayed public trust? As SAMWU, we are prepared to cautiously support this intervention, as our fundamental concern remains establishing properly functioning municipalities that serve both residents and workers effectively. However, we will monitor proceedings vigilantly and will not hesitate to mobilise our members and communities should there be any indication that this process is being manipulated to entrench corruption or protect political interests.

The time for empty promises and half-measures has passed. Matjhabeng’s residents and workers cannot endure another failed intervention. This court-ordered action must mark the beginning of genuine, sustainable reform that properly addresses workers’ and residents’ needs. The provincial government must demonstrate its commitment by taking immediate action against Mayor Khalipha and all those complicit in Matjhabeng’s decline – not because they were forced by the courts, but because it is the right thing to do. Only through such decisive measures can the process of restoring trust and rebuilding services properly commence.

Issued by SAMWU Free State 

Thabang Tseuoa

Provincial Secretary 

082 620 9160

Sandla Mahlathi

Deputy Provincial Secretary

072 658 0725

Papikie Mohale

National Media Officer

076 795 8670