This comes after the group - whose membership is based throughout the municipality in Welkom, Allanridge, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman, and Virginia - met with representatives of the provincial government on Friday 11 June 2021. 

The meeting was regarding community calls for a shutdown in light of embattled mayor, Nkosinjani Speelman, still being in power. At this stage, the specifics of the meeting - such as which government representatives were in attendance - this past Friday are not known. 

The foundation has only indicated that the meeting was “fruitful” and they agreed to halt the planned shutdown until 20 June 2021. They plead with residents to allow businesses to operate, employees to go to work, and children to attend school on Monday, without disruption.

Previously Matjhabeng Community Foundation secretary, Shima Mahlatsi, told OFM News, ahead of the foundation’s march at the end of May 2021, that they want Speelman to go because there is a lack of development in the municipality. He argued that when Speelman was elected into power, he appointed members of mayoral committees (MMCs).

These individuals were supposed to lead their respective divisions at the municipality. He stressed that when these divisions failed to function, it is a reflection of Speelman’s inability to hold the MMC’s accountable, and that is “why he must go”.

Mahlatsi threatened that should Speelman still be around after 14 days from the march, then they would embark on a shutdown, which has been postponed.

Speelman is no stranger to controversy. In 2020 he was suspended by the African National Congress’ (ANC) Free State disciplinary committee after a video of him making use of racial slurs when referring to the coloured community in Bronville, surfaced on social media.

This was in an address to members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) who were deployed to the area to enforce Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The committee slapped him with an 18-month ban from party activities. This decision was later eased by the national disciplinary appeals committee.

Furthermore, Matjhabeng reportedly owes Sedibeng Water billions for services rendered. The matter between the party came under scrutiny in April 2021, when Sedibeng Water blamed Matjhabeng’s overdue account for delaying the time-sensitive procurement of water treating chemicals.
 
In mid-April, the water board was forced to bring operations at the Balkfontein Water Treatment Plant to a halt due to their inability to access chlorine gas in time. It appears the situation is occurring again with Sedibeng Water announcing this weekend that they are experiencing a shortage of chemicals which has forced them to suspend the supply of water at the Bulkfontein Plant.

OFM News