Under its current leadership, the Matjhabeng Municipality is marred by financial maladministration, corruption, and mismanagement and is on the brink of complete shut-down of all basic services, opposition parties claim.

They said it is a disgrace that certain areas of Welkom are being beautified for the president’s visit on Thursday (7/12), while Matjhabeng residents continue to suffer.

“The reason for Matjhabeng’s latest financial woes can be laid squarely at the feet of Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha because he stands accused of using the municipality’s service providers to cater to his personal needs,” said ActionSA Free State provincial chairperson Patricia Kopane.

‘Matjhabeng’s financial woes can be laid on Khalipha’

Her party wants Premier Mxolisi Dukwana to invoke section 139(5) of the Constitution, whereby the finances of the municipality may be taken over by a competent and qualified individual to oversee the financial turnaround of the municipality.

OFM News previously reported the municipality has recently been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, with opposition parties criticizing ANC Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha.

Service delivery issues will once more take centre stage when President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the Free State again to hold another presidential imbizo in Welkom on Thursday (7/12). Potholes are being filled, streetlights are being fixed and the sidewalks in the City are being cleaned.

Potholes patched in Matjhabeng, Photo: Facebook

“The fact that Mayor Khalipha is just cleaning Matjhabeng and surrounding towns because the president is coming to our municipality just shows his absolute lack of commitment and understanding to give residents the services that they pay for.”

“This just shows that everything he does is just political grandstanding and he is using his office to promote his political agenda,” said Matjhabeng’s DA Councillor Igor Scheurkogel.

‘Everything he does is just political grandstanding’

ActionSA sent a letter to the Free State premier and gave him two weeks to respond to it and if they do not get a response they will escalate the matter to the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs.

“We are giving you 14 days to respond and demonstrate to the Matjhabeng residents that you are committed to bringing an end to this crisis,” said Kopane.

Meanwhile, the FF Plus also rejected the cleaning effort “in the strongest terms”. “Service delivery is failing but they window dress certain areas to impress the president,” said Matjhabeng FF Plus Councillor Manie Pretorius. “This is not a true reflection of the status of Matjhabeng and Welkom. This is unacceptable.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame   dg