By: Abigail Visagie and JN Reporter

    As ANC wields the axe in crackdown on underperforming municipalities In a sweeping move to restore public confidence and tighten its grip ahead of the 2026 elections, the African National Congress (ANC) is reported ly preparing to remove underperforming mayors across several municipalities in the Free State. This follows a recent oversight visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), which uncovered widespread dysfunction, including missing billions in funds, sewage spills, illegal tenders, and critical vacancies in local government. While the ANC has officially denied any imminent mayoral dismissals, insiders reveal that an announcement is expected shortly after the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting next week. A senior party source confirmed that the move is part of a broader strategy to enforce accountability, improve service delivery, and address long-standing governance failures at the municipal level. “I can tell you that at least five mayors are likely to be recalled next week. The final number may change, but the message is clear, this bold step signals a clear warning that no mayor is safe if they fail to meet the party’s performance benchmarks or deliver on their mandates,” said a source. Dr Zweli Mkhize, chair of the parliamentary committee on cooperative governance, has described the state of municipalities in the Free State as “disastrous”. The Auditor-General’s latest report paints a similarly grim picture, highlighting rampant irregular expenditure, lack of accountability, and numerous audit disclaimers across municipalities. ANC provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko, while not confirming the planned mass-recall, stated on Wednesday that “The party has not made a decision to recall any mayors. However, where we find that a mayor has failed their community, we will act accordingly and remove them.” ANC provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng has stated that recent developments only reinforce the par Free State Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and MEC for Cogta Saki Mokoena. Picture: Supplied ty’s longstanding concerns about the state of municipali ties, as highlighted during their provincial roadshows. “We need to determine the appropriate course of action, given the seriousness of the problems we are facing. COGTA’s visit confirmed what we had also observed during our roadshows. It reinforces our concerns about what has gone wrong in our municipalities—and what must be done to fix it,” Motsoeneng said. Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, while acknowledging her limited authority over mayors, stressed the need for consequence management—particularly in municipalities that refuse to cooperate with the teams deployed by the Provincial Government. To address non-compliance, the Premier revealed that an official has been appointed within municipalities to assist with monitoring and evaluation. “We have established a Premier Coordinating Forum (PCF), which is proving to be a critical platform to engage, assist, and hold municipalities accountable,” she said. Letsoha-Mathae added that the forum is also focused on enforcing payment commitments, particularly to entities like Vaal Central Water and Eskom. “We are pleased that, following our intervention, the Kopanong Municipality has finalised a debt repayment plan with Vaal Central Water. Additionally, we have recruited 17 graduates to provide municipalities with essential technical skills, including hydrology, resource management, and engineering support,” she said. As the ANC PEC meeting looms next week, all eyes are on whether the party will finally act decisively on its deployed comrades.