The newly elected Mayor of Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality, Tumelo Thebe, has wasted no time in setting the tone for his administration, unveiling an ambitious plan to restore dignity, improve service delivery, and rebuild public confidence in a municipality that has struggled with governance and infrastructure challenges for years.

Tabling the municipality’s R2.743 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year on Wednesday, Thebe outlined a people-centred vision aimed at addressing long-standing concerns around water, electricity, roads, housing, and economic development.

The mayor said the priorities contained in the budget are intended to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of residents and ensure that local government becomes more responsive to community needs.

“Our priorities should highlight our accountability to the Maluti-A-Phofung residents, business community, religious community, and all stakeholders,” said Thebe.

“I believe we can still do better on our public participation processes to promote inclusiveness. Our priorities should reflect a high sense of responsiveness to the challenges facing our people.”

For more than a decade, residents across QwaQwa and surrounding areas have voiced frustration over unreliable water and electricity supply, deteriorating roads, and inadequate municipal services. Businesses have also repeatedly raised concerns over the impact of poor infrastructure on investment and economic growth.

Thebe acknowledged these challenges and pledged that his administration would move decisively to address them.

“It cannot be business as usual when parts of QwaQwa do not have water and electricity. We must provide water and electricity,” he said.

“It cannot be business as usual when the whole of Tlholong is flooded when it rains. We must fix the water channels. It cannot be business as usual when roads and streets in Tshiame and Makgolokoeng are inaccessible. We must fix the roads.

“It cannot be business as usual when our young men and women share a shack with their elderly parents. We must allocate sites.”

Creating Jobs and Reviving Industry

Economic growth and youth employment emerged as key priorities in the mayor’s address.

Thebe strongly condemned the ongoing theft of electrical infrastructure and vandalism of water pipelines supplying industrial areas in Phuthaditjhaba and Tshiame, warning that these criminal activities continue to undermine economic development and discourage investment.

He called on residents to work with law enforcement agencies to identify and report those responsible.

“Some among us in the community know the perpetrators of these acts. I urge you all to report them to the authorities and help stop this crime as it contributes to investors leaving our areas and increasing unemployment,” he said.

According to figures from the Free State Development Corporation (FDC), the industrial areas of Phuthaditjhaba and Tshiame currently contain 360 factory units, of which 212 stand vacant. At least 21 of these factories have been destroyed by fire or vandalism.

The mayor described the situation as unacceptable, saying vacant industrial facilities represent lost opportunities for economic growth and job creation.

“We cannot accept a situation where factories that could be used to create new industries and employment opportunities for our young people remain empty and neglected,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Thebe pointed to significant investment opportunities on the horizon. He revealed that discussions are underway with 10 potential investors interested in establishing operations within the Maluti-A-Phofung Special Economic Zone in Tshiame.

The proposed investments are expected to exceed R3.4 billion and could create as many as 2,200 jobs if successfully implemented.

The development is being viewed as a major boost for a municipality grappling with high unemployment levels, particularly among young people.

Roads and Infrastructure Take Centre Stage

Improving road infrastructure has also been identified as a cornerstone of the municipality’s dignity restoration programme.

Thebe said several maintenance and rehabilitation projects are already underway to improve accessibility in villages, townships, and rural communities.

“These include pothole repairs, cleaning of stormwater drains, rehabilitation of base and surface layers, pavement realignment, cutting of trees, and minor spot gravelling on various roads,” he explained.

In addition to routine maintenance, the municipality is collaborating with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the Free State Department of Roads on several major infrastructure projects.

Among these are the construction of footbridges in Monontsha, the paving of roads and installation of stormwater drainage systems in Makwane and Qoqolosing, and the first phase of a 3km paved road project in Tsheseng/Fika Patso.

The municipality is also participating in the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme, which will see 19 bridges constructed in communities including Tseki, Makong, Phazama, Mphokojoane, Paballong and Makoane.

The projects are expected to improve mobility, reduce travel risks and strengthen access to schools, healthcare facilities and economic opportunities.

Strengthening Water and Electricity Supply

Addressing ongoing electricity challenges remains a priority for the municipality.

Thebe announced that key electricity infrastructure, including the Elizabeth Ross Substation and the Moteka Substation, will be upgraded during the coming financial year.

The Moteka facility is particularly significant as it supplies electricity to more than 30 villages across the QwaQwa region.

The municipality also plans to purchase additional transformers to reduce outages and improve network reliability.

“We are going to purchase new transformers to assist with ongoing power outages,” said Thebe.

At the same time, he appealed to residents to support municipal revenue collection efforts by purchasing electricity and paying for services.

The mayor stressed that sustainable service delivery depends on the municipality's ability to generate revenue needed to maintain and upgrade infrastructure.

With a multi-billion-rand budget now in place and ambitious plans on the table, Thebe has positioned his administration around a simple but powerful promise: restoring dignity through service delivery, economic growth and responsive governance. Whether that vision translates into meaningful change for residents will be closely watched in the months ahead.