Free State ANC welcomes government decision to place Mangaung under administration

The ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the Free State has welcomed the government’s intervention to place the embattled Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality under under administration.

The IPC issued a statement on Thursday, 7 April, where the party applauded the national cabinet’s harsh decision to invoke section 139 (7) of the Constitution.

“It is a development meant to take over the intervention in the municipality by the national government in order to take further the progress of Financial Recovery Plan started by the Provincial government,” said the party in the province.

The interim body in the province further added that efforts of government in improving the corporate governance situation in Mangaung is always welcomed by the party in order to improve services to the community.

The municipality has been experiencing backlogs such as corporate governance for some time, which emanated from political conflicts that befell the city.

The effect has been poor service delivery and series of protest actions by community groups.

Since its establishment in 2011, prior to that it was a local municipality under the Motheo District Municipality, Mangaung has battled to deliver services to its residents.

In a report released by Deputy Finance minister David Masondo in 2016, the opposing parties pointed out that Mangaung misused R500 million, since some contractors were unpaid by the municipality and had to quit jobs.

According to Masondo’s announcement back then, a financial recovery plan was put in place for Mangaung in December 2019.

The recovery plan failed due to poor governance and finance management.

Meanwhile, the city’s executive mayor Olly Mlamleli faced the boot in 2020, after she lost the battle to retain her position following a motion of no confidence brought by the FF Plus, that was supported by a majority of councillors including the her cadres in the branches.

“We, as a result, have a firm believe that this decision shall usher in better institutional environment conducive for improving services to communities,” the party said in a statement.

“The ANC will work tirelessly to ensure that the intervention bear fruits for improving conditions in the Muncipality, unleashing its institutional capacity in pursuit of its mandate and fast-tracking service delivery to the communities,” a statement further read.

The ANC appealed to all stakeholders to support the intervention for the betterment of the community.