DA lay racketeering charges against embattled Matjhabeng Mayor over service delivery issues

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges against the troubled Matjhabeng Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipa, alleging that the mayor has subjected residents to inhumane experiences and requested that the municipality be investigated for systemic and calculated racketeering activities over a multitude of years.

DA Free State premier candidate Roy Jankielson, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of conditions in Matjhabeng and stated that, they have brought the matter to the attention of the office of the human rights commission.

“When I was driving in Matjhabeng yesterday, it was sad because you can smell the ANC government in Matjhabeng.

The sewage is running throughout the streets. This government is poisoning us. We took this issue to the human rights commission in the Free State and they promised to get back to us. People are going to know about the human rights abuses in the Free State,” said Jankielson.

Jankielson continued to say that they have laid criminal charges against Matjhabeng Mayor and have asked the Premier [Mxolisi Dukwana] to intervene and make sure that the Municipality is governed properly, “but they refuse to do it because they are too scared to deal with their cadre friends.”

“They are protecting each other while people are suffering. We are going to court to force the premier to intervene in this Municipality,” stressed Jankielson.

Jankielson made a commitment to the residents of Matjhabeng that if they [DA] come into power in the Free State, they will establish intervention teams at the provincial level.

“These teams will provide their expertise to the Municipalities, helping them acquire new skills and fixing any issues. Once the intervention is complete, the municipalities should be capable of delivering their services effectively,” he said.

On Wednesday, May 15, the DA wrapped up their campaign with a grand rally in Welkom, Free State. Addressing a massive crowd, John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, made a series of promises.

He pledged to put an end to load shedding, eradicate cadre deployment, combat crime, and create more and sustainable jobs.