The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State has welcomed the smooth reconfiguration of seven struggling municipal troikas, describing the process as a critical intervention to strengthen governance, improve service delivery, and restore stability in municipalities across the province.
The party said the leadership changes were carried out in a disciplined and united manner to ensure municipalities remain responsive to the needs of communities ahead of the upcoming elections.
The reshuffle, announced in August last year by ANC Free State provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng, was aimed at realigning political priorities, stabilising municipalities, and accelerating service delivery.
According to ANC provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko, the process has progressed smoothly, with only two of the seven municipalities still expected to elect new mayors.
“The process is going smoothly and should be completed within a week or two. The organisation is currently finalising a few internal issues within Nala and Masilonyana local municipalities,” said Meeko.
He welcomed the election of new mayors in Mafube, Moqhaka, Letsemeng, Nketoana, and the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
“We are happy as the ANC that capable leaders are being put in place to fast-track issues confronting the municipalities, including service delivery to the people,” he said.
Phaladi Matsole was recently elected as the new mayor of Mafube Local Municipality, while Ramasimong Daniel Tau was appointed mayor of Moqhaka Local Municipality.
Meanwhile, Andrew Visagie, Godfrey, and Phindiwe Maseko were elected mayors of Letsemeng, Nketoana, and Lejweleputswa District Municipality, respectively.
Interstate Bus Lines has effective immediately suspended all bus operations in Botshabelo today due to safety risks that arose from the escalation of a planned anti-foreign protest and city shutdown.
This comes after 168 people were arrested in Bloemfontein during a looting spree that saw foreign-owned shops burned and destroyed by community members.
Botshabelo and Bloemfontein remain a hot spot of all the looting, and all bus services will be suspended until further notice.
“A thorough operational risk assessment,t suspending operations following the escalation of the planned shutdown,wn was necessary to ensure the safety of the drivers and passengers.
“We are especially mindful of learners preparing for their mid-year examinations and workers who depend on public transport to earn a living. It is our sincere hope that the situation will be resolved soon and calmness and stability will return, allowing us to safely resume transporting passengers,” said the bus company management through a media statement that was issued today.
What began as social media calls for a shutdown against foreign nationals in Mangaung escalated into overnight unrest across parts of Bloemfontein and Botshabelo, leaving businesses damaged, schools disrupted and communities trying to recover after hours of violence.
Posters calling for a shutdown started circulating on social media on Sunday, 24 May, with messages linked to action against foreign nationals.
While some residents later shared messages claiming the shutdown would not go ahead, tensions rose as the night unfolded.
By Sunday evening and into the early hours of Monday, unrest had spread through several communities in Mangaung.
Residents reported looting and vandalism targeting shops owned by foreign nationals, while protesters clashed with police, throwing stones and burning tyres on roads in some areas as law enforcement worked to contain the unrest.
The impact was felt across the metro by Monday morning.
Some schools remained closed for the day, scholar transport services were disrupted and parts of interstate bus routes were temporarily halted as authorities monitored the situation and residents assessed damage.
For many people, the effects were immediate and deeply personal. Business owners whose shops were targeted were left cleaning up damaged property and trying to salvage what remained of stock lost during the night.
Workers employed at affected businesses were also left uncertain about what comes next.
A community member at the Rocklands shopping centre, who asked not to be identified, said he now faces an uncertain future after the shop where he worked was damaged.
“These same foreign business owners gave me a job,” he said. “Now I don’t know how I’m going to provide for my family, he said.
Amid the unrest, Mangaung Metro’s Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi issued an appeal for calm.
“We condemn the violence. Destruction and intimidation will worsen already difficult conditions in our communities.
“The Municipality wishes to state unequivocally that no grievance, irrespective of its nature, justifies lawlessness, violence, looting, intimidation, destruction of property, or the disruption of schooling and essential public services, Ntatisi said in a media statement issued today.
He says ongoing unrest threatens community safety, economic activity and service delivery, particularly in working-class communities where damage to infrastructure and business closures often have the deepest impact.
The mayor also called on residents to reject vigilantism, xenophobia and mob justice, saying matters involving immigration and criminal conduct must be handled through lawful state institutions.
The municipality confirmed it is working closely with law enforcement and other stakeholders to monitor affected areas and reduce further disruption, while police remain visible in several parts of Mangaung.
For people to stand for the political leadership positions like ward counsellor, mayor, it is for the good of the public and to serve the people.
South Africa has been a witness of many political infights that has brought a lot of people to question whether they are in these positions for personal gains or for the job is actually about.
According to a political analyst Professor Sethulago Matebesi in most instances in South Africa, some people stand for these positions because they carry power and status that at times does not serve in the interest of the people.
“Unfortunately the power that these people get out of these positions, the acquired status of being a mayor and a counsellor, leads to many other issues, which unfortunately doesn't serve the public good. That is too much power, access to resources, like for instance, now suddenly a counsellor can manipulate appointments, a counsellor will have input into appointments, but also where some of these political appointees play a critical role in directing where certain tenders can go and all that,” he said.
Adding that this also happens as a result of the high unemployment rate that the country is currently battling.
“its just perhaps an opportunity, a genuine opportunity for employment. So we cannot say all people join, or want to become counsellors because they are corrupt, or they want to advance their own.”
Matebesi also menstioned that others join these kinds of positions, or raise their hands, because they want to improve the well-being of the residents.
He emphasized that this has inherent challenges, for the local government elections, because it then creates an unstable environment.
“Political parties must be explicit, in terms of how they will navigate, around this particular issue, its one thing to have rules and regulations, which is in any case on paper, but you also need the caliber of leaders, that demonstrates to their followers, that they forever are respecting, the principles of democracy.”
According to another political analyst, Ongama Mtimka, intraparty rivalry has been biggest source of concern.
“Although South Africa holds generally free, fair, and peaceful elections, unfortunately intraparty rivalry has been biggest source of concern in particular hotspots as a result of, unemployment in general and lack of opportunities and also as a result of the highstakes that the offices of councilors hold as points of distribution for patronage networks,” he said
Adding that for the internal fights that take place, some of them are enabled by parties that have a facade of democracy.
To survive the high unemployment rate in the country, it seems that for some, the only way out is to become a political leader and assume power that would open doors for them and guarantee a safe future.
Thirteen accused linked to the multimillion-rand methamphetamine laboratory uncovered near Swartruggens in North West have appeared in the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court, with the matter postponed to 12 June for formal bail applications and further investigations.
The case, already regarded as one of the largest drug busts in the province in recent years, expanded after farm owners Chantel Adele Schutte and Johann Louis Schutte handed themselves over to authorities before joining the growing list of accused.
According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale, the pair face charges relating to the manufacture of illicit drugs, illegal possession of hazardous chemicals, and illegal possession of precious metals.
The accused appeared alongside Tyron John Schutte, Kyle Schutte, Ismael Afiado Massingue, Lourenco Constantino Cumbane, Tobias Soyani, Vusi Amos Mkambi, Naome Jacquelin Lopez Madrid, Fabian Astorga Ramirez, Jesus Alonso Medina Astorga, Luis Alberto Ramirez Rios and Jose Andres Medina Astorga.
Several of the accused, including five Mexican nationals, are also facing charges under the Immigration Act after preliminary investigations allegedly revealed they were in South Africa illegally.
Authorities previously confirmed that approximately 481kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as tik, was seized during the Hawks-led operation conducted on a farm outside Swartruggens. Investigators also confiscated manufacturing equipment, large volumes of chemicals and three firearms believed to be linked to the operation.
Mogale said the quantity of drugs seized could still increase as forensic experts continue processing the extensive crime scene.
The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs is believed to exceed R100 million, while the laboratory infrastructure itself could be worth more than R1 billion.
Four of the accused have indicated their intention to apply for bail once proceedings resume next month.
Anger boiled over in Hennenman this week as frustrated residents of Phomolong brought the township to a standstill, demanding jobs from a multi-million-rand solar energy project they say has excluded the very community it was meant to uplift.
The unrest, linked to recruitment disputes surrounding the Middelpunt PV Solar Project, triggered a full-scale shutdown that disrupted schools, healthcare services and daily life as residents accused contractors of hiring workers from outside the township while locals remained unemployed.
For many residents, particularly unemployed youth, the solar project had represented a rare opportunity for economic relief in a community battling severe poverty and soaring unemployment levels. But tensions exploded after allegations surfaced that recruitment processes were unfair and lacked transparency.
Roads were barricaded, businesses were affected and access to clinics became increasingly difficult as the protest intensified. Anxiety also mounted over matric learners preparing for critical mid-year examinations amid the instability.
The escalating crisis forced urgent intervention from the Free State Provincial Government.
Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae first met with residents on 15 May, assuring the community that the government would return after consultations with all parties involved.
By 19 May, Acting Premier Jabu Mbalula convened a high-level stakeholder meeting in Hennenman involving representatives from Middelpunt PV Solar, the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, provincial officials and community leaders in a bid to calm the situation.
Also present were Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi and councillors Maxie Badenhorst and Phehello Nthuba.
During tense engagements, community leaders reportedly rejected a proposed 60/40 recruitment model, insisting that Phomolong residents should be prioritised for jobs linked to the project.
Residents further demanded that hiring processes be managed through a verified local database to prevent alleged favouritism, manipulation and the recruitment of outsiders.
Mbalula acknowledged the community’s frustrations, saying their concerns were legitimate.
“We have always said that local communities must be the primary beneficiaries of projects in their towns and we stand by that,” he said.
At the same time, he warned against individuals attempting to exploit the unrest for personal agendas and appealed for calm.
“Despite the differences between different parties, the education and future of learners must not be compromised,” Mbalula said as concerns grew over matric pupils scheduled to write exams.
After marathon negotiations, a breakthrough was finally reached on 20 May when a Memorandum of Demands was signed between the provincial government, Middelpunt PV Solar investors and community representatives, officially ending the shutdown.
The agreement commits the company to implementing a more transparent and inclusive recruitment process, with local residents expected to receive priority consideration for employment opportunities.
Mbalula welcomed the resolution and praised residents for protesting peacefully despite heightened tensions.
“I commend the community for maintaining peace and not vandalising state property. Their demands are reasonable, and residents must be prioritised in projects implemented in their area,” he said.
With calm restored, schools, clinics and other essential services have resumed operations. However, the standoff has once again exposed growing tensions around large infrastructure and renewable energy projects across South Africa, where communities increasingly demand direct economic benefits from developments taking place on their doorstep.
For Phomolong residents, the message was unmistakable: development means little if local communities are left behind.
