The metro had been stripped of its executive powers after being placed under administration at the end of 2019.

Also read: Mangaung is messed up - Dlamini-Zuma

OFM News previously reported that Dlamini-Zuma had vowed to undertake another visit to the metro after the Easter weekend, with the intention to further deliberate on programmes and the national government’s role in this take-over. She is expected to lead strategic follow up engagements with Mangaung Council and other organisations and structures on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the department, Deputy Minister of Cogta, Thembisile Nkadimeng, Deputy Minister of Finance, David Masondo, Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, and Free State MEC for Cogta, Mxolisi Dukwana, will be part of this meeting.

The move by national government has since resulted in much speculation that this might be the final nail in the coffin for the troubled metro, and that its council may be dissolved. Mangaung Metro is the first metro in the country to be placed under the care of the national government.

Also read: Dlamini-Zuma visits troubled Mangaung Metro

Mangaung Pressure groups like the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC), among others, have vehemently called for the dissolution of the metro. They have been alleging that the council should be dissolved because they have let corruption thrive under their watch. The metro has been placed under National Government's control in terms of Section 139 (7) of the Constitution.

This section states that after a municipality fails to make progress in improving its financial and service delivery performance after being placed under administration, Cabinet may decide to place it under national intervention.

OFM News