As the 2026 municipal elections loom, Journal News caught up with Setsoto Local Municipality, Mayor Seipati Mbiwe, on issues affecting the municipality and its residents, as well as his plans to retain the office.
By: Abigail Visagie
Thank you for making time to speak to us, Ex ecutive Mayor. How are you doing and, more importantly, how is the municipality doing overall? I’m doing well, thank you. The municipality is also doing well, I must say, despite the various challenges that come with being a local government entity. We are tasked with implementing Section 72 of the Con stitution and delivering essential services to our com munities. But the role of a municipality goes beyond just service delivery. We must also create an environment that fosters holistic development - this includes supporting com munity initiatives, youth development, sport, arts and culture, addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), and tackling the ongoing challenges of HIV/AIDS. No matter your position - even if you’re the presi dent - you must never forget the people at grassroots level. The strength of any nation lies in its local com munities. I thought you’d start with the challenges of being located so close to the Lesotho border. Is that some thing your municipality struggles with as well? Indeed, illegal immigration is a daily challenge for us. Our main town, Ficksburg, is just five minutes from the Lesotho border. This means we often ex perience a steady influx of Basotho nationals cross ing over. This results in issues such as livestock theft and the presence of undocumented foreign nation als - challenges that are not unique to us but are felt across many South African border towns. Surely not everyone crossing over contributes to crime - some might even boost the local economy. So, how do you manage that? Absolutely, and we recognise that. That’s why we’ve rolled out a programme to verify and accredit spaza shop owners, ensuring they have the correct documentation. This initiative ensures that foreign nationals operating businesses are legally recog nised and comply with regulatory standards. The programme will eventually extend beyond the spaza shop sector to include other industries. It’s important for us to know whether individuals are asylum seekers or have legal standing - especially when they are actively participating in our local econ omy. I see. Earlier, you mentioned the importance of not forgetting the grassroots level. Do you believe your administration has done enough for communi t ies to feel compelled to vote for your party in next year’s Local Government Elections? To be honest, preparing for elections shouldn’t be a once-off event. Local government is a full-time responsibility. While not all councillors are full-time, the mayor, executive council members, and much of the municipal administration are. Our focus remains on consistent, daily service delivery. Our communities shouldn’t only see improve ments during election season. The municipality must always be ready - whether elections are tomorrow or a year away. Our goal is to maintain this level of read iness and continuously work to improve the lives of the people of Setsoto. What would you say are the most pressing chal lenges currently facing the municipality in terms of service delivery? Potholes have become a major headache. Water supply has been unreliable in some areas, forcing us to rely on water tankers. In addition, we’re also struggling with sewage spillages, which are becoming a serious concern. Why are these issues so persistent? And what steps are you and your team taking to address them? We are actively working on putting systems in place to show our capability and commitment to improving lives. One of our biggest challenges is the culture of non-payment for services. Many residents have grown used to receiving services - such as wa ter and waste collection - without paying for them. But these services require funding, manpower, and resources to be sustained. We’ve launched a campaign to educate residents about the importance of paying for municipal servic es. Reliable waste collection, for example, depends on consistent financial contributions from house holds. Changing this mindset is not something we can leave for election season - it must be a constant conversation. We are also encouraging active community par t icipation in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) processes and budget votes. This allows residents to understand both what they can expect from us and what their responsibilities are. You are currently serving your first term as mayor. Based on your experience so far, would you like to return for a second term? Yes, this is my first term as mayor. In the previous term, I served as the council whip at the district level. While I would be honoured to continue in this role and build on the work we’ve started, my redeploy ment ultimately depends on my organisation - the same organisation that entrusted me with this re sponsibility. It will also depend on the community - whether they believe I’ve delivered on my mandate and made a meaningful impact. I do believe we’ve built mo mentum, and my focus right now is to ensure that this momentum continues and that we keep moving Setsoto forward.
League president intensifies calls for action against failing party deployees in local government
By: Abigail Visagie
African National Congress Youth League (AN CYL) President Collen Malatji has come out guns blazing, urging the ruling party to take swift and decisive action against party deployees responsible for the collapse of local municipalities in the Free State. Delivering the Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture at Bloemfontein’s City Hall last week, the ANC’s young wing president emphasized that the ANC must urgently address poor municipal leadership if it hopes to avoid further backlash from voters at the polls. This follows damning revelations uncovered during an oversight visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance to the prov ince two weeks ago. The committee reported that the Free State has some of the worst-performing municipalities in the country, plagued by systemic collapse, missing billions in funds, sewage spills, illegal tenders, and widespread staff vacancies. Committee Chairperson Dr. Zweli Mkhize revealed that municipalities in the province have accumulat ed billions in unpaid debt. “One municipality owes over R8 billion to a water board. Others have failed to pay pension contributions deducted from employees’ salaries, while some have spent millions on unauthorised overtime—despite the near-total collapse of service delivery. Roads are impassable in some areas, water systems are dysfunctional, and waste services are in shambles. In certain towns, sewage spills have become a daily struggle, and electricity is only avail able for a few hours each day,” Mkhize said. Weighing in on the crisis, Malatji said the revo lution of young people cannot be postponed while over 80% of municipalities in the Free State are collapsing. “The revolution cannot be postponed when there’s no service delivery in our townships, villages, and towns. We vote people into office, and they arrive only to sleep in their offices, drink tea, and employ their girlfriends and friends—while our people lose hope in the ANC. It’s our responsibility to remove these rotten elements and return the ANC to the people,” he said, stressing that the party must act swiftly. Malatji’s comments align with the ANC Youth League’s provincial leadership, which has issued a four-page media statement calling for the dissolu tion of dysfunctional municipalities. “These councils no longer represent the people. They have become protection units for thieves. The executive mayors, speakers, and chief whips in these municipalities must be recalled immediately. Let us be clear: if the ANC leadership chooses to protect the corrupt, it is choosing to fight the people. If it refuses to act, it has no moral standing to ask for votes,” said provincial spokesperson Thenjiwe Zapi in the statement. Meanwhile, ANC Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng acknowledged that the leadership was already aware of the issues highlighted by the committee. “We need to determine the appropriate course of action, considering the seriousness of the problems we are facing. Cogta’s visit confirmed what we had also encountered during our provincial roadshows. It reinforces our long-standing concerns about what has gone wrong in our municipalities and what needs to be done to fix them,” Motsoeneng said.
By: Selloane Khalane
The first meeting of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee—tasked with probing explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi—was anything but smooth. From the onset on 5 August 2025, political spats emerged, exposing tensions among the very members entrusted with investigating alleged criminal interference in South Africa’s justice and polic ing systems. Lt Gen Mkhwanazi’s now-infamous press conference on 6 July sent shockwaves across the country. His claims of political meddling, rogue intelligence contracts, and the disbandment of critical task teams within SAPS painted a disturbing picture. The fallout has already led to suspensions, arrests, and widespread scrutiny into the inner workings of the state. Watching democracy unfold in real-time is a privilege. Parliamentary processes, once confined to textbooks and legal journals, are now livestreamed for public view. In this first sitting, viewers saw Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema decline a nomination to chair the proceedings—a move that drew both praise and criticism online. Whether it was a strategic chess move or genuine disinterest remains a matter of public debate. Streamed on YouTube, the committee’s first sitting was convened primarily to elect its chairperson. What should have been a routine formality quickly turned into a performance of political theatre. ActionSA’s representative, Dereleen James, made it clear that trust in the process was already under strain. “We need to start off on the right foot, but how do we garner public trust this morning when we have a chairperson elected from the very same party where most of the people are embroiled in?” She went on to highlight South Africans’ fatigue with endless commissions and forums, and expressed that ActionSA did not have voting rights in electing the chairperson. Khusela Sangoni-Diko (ANC) responded, “We cannot, on the very first day, want to collapse this process. If members are coming here with the intention of being populist and using what is a grave concern of the people for cheap political scoring, then we are going to have a problem.” She further warned against grandstanding: “We cannot come here and have to defend state ments made merely to attract attention from the cam eras.” Malema came to James ‘ defense, asserting that every member has the right to raise concerns without being “character assassinated.” The 11-member ad hoc committee is composed of representatives from across South Africa’s political spectrum, reflecting a multiparty approach to the investigation into Lt Gen Mkhwanazi’s allegations. The African National Congress (ANC) holds four seats, represented by Mdumiseni Ntuli (Chief Whip), Khusela Sangoni-Diko, Xola Nqola, and Molapi Soviet Lekganya ne, who was elected chairperson. Glynnis Breytenbach and Ian Cameron represent the Democratic Alliance (DA), while the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has Sibo nelo Nomvalo and David Skosana. Julius Malema represents the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the final two seats are held by Man gaqa Albert Mncwango of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Ashley Sauls of the Patriotic Alliance (PA)— both representing smaller parties. To ensure continuity and representation, six alternate members were also appointed: Thoko Khanyile (ANC), Diane Kohler Barnard and Lisa Schickerling (DA), Leigh Ann Mathys (EFF), Dereleen James (ActionSA), and Wouter Wessels (Freedom Front Plus). These alternates are expected to step in should primary members be unavailable during proceedings. The biggest surprise of the day was Malema’s refusal to chair the committee, despite being nominated and seconded. His decision sparked heated debate on social media, with some questioning his patriotism while others viewed it as a strategic move. Ultimately, Molapi Soviet Lekganyane was elected unopposed, a move that reinforced concerns about the ruling party’s dominance over the process. For many, the real question remains: can this committee genuine ly investigate the very structures that appointed it? Established under National Assembly Rule 253, the ad hoc committee has been tasked with probing the veracity and implications of the explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police.
By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
South Africa, a country where diversity is celebrated and human rights enshrined in the Constitution, however a contentious debate has sparked a firestorm. Long queues, insufficient bed space, a long orthopedic surgery waiting lists, pregnant mothers sleeping on the floor due to insufficient bed space, and not enough medication for patients in need. These are just some of the challenges faces by the 84% of South Africans who rely on public healthcare services. They say the public healthcare system is overburdened. Section 27(3) of the South African Constitution guarantees basic healthcare services for all, regardless of nationality or immigration status. A heated debate has emerged and locals are saying no to free health services for undocumented foreigners. But activists have sparked controversy by advocating for the exclusion of illegal immigrants from using public health facilities. The past few weeks have seen Anti-migrant organizations such as Operation Dudula mobilizing their members to restrict foreigners’ access to public health facilities, demanding that undocumented foreigners produce identification documents before receiving care or not use the services at all. Members of the organisation have been blocking foreigners from accessing public health care services demanding that they pay. Dudula has been hard at work ensuring that measures are put in place, which include requiring people to produce their South African identity documents at the entrance of public health facilities. They say they are protecting the interests of South Africans, but the Human Rights Commission says this is a violation of human rights. This has caused public outrage, as some people are becoming frustrated because they have to carry their IDs with them whenever they visit health facilities. Karabo Xaba (25) a student from Bloemfontein says she fully supports Operation Dudula. She says she feels that South Africa as a country is being taken advantage of by foreign nationals. “It is not fair for us, as taxpayers to support everyone. “Free healthcare services are meant for South African citizens. I fully support what Operation Dudula is doing. Foreigners should pay for public health services or use private hospitals as they do not contribute to the tax system. Another patient Mpho Mohapi (42) from Bochabela in Bloemfontein who uses public facilities says she also supports the notion. Mohapi has been waiting to get help at the Pelenomi Tertiary hospital in Bloemfontein for over 24 hours. She says she is waiting in the queue with foreigners and thinks it is not fair. “I don’t have a problem with foreign nationals, my problem is that now I have to wait in long lines before I get help. I have been sitting on this chair ever since I arrived. “ I left my two children at home and they needed to go to school today, but they did not go to school because I am stuck in the hospital. “I think foreign nationals must go to private hospitals. Most of them are in South Africa to work, so they are employed and can afford private hospitals and clinics. Journal News went to the streets to get the views of foreign nationals about this issue and John Salimo* from Mozambique who has been in South Africa illegally for more than ten years says he is saddened by the treatment from South Africans. “I used to think that we are all brothers and sisters and we can come to each other’s rescue when we are in need, but now denying us healthcare access just shows the amount of resentment. “I have been here for years and witnessed the hatred every day, but it just keeps getting worse, he said. Despite how ordinary citizens feel about foreigners using public health care services for free, illegal immigrants who are in hospital say they receive the best care at facilities. Cliff Maimble, an illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe says he is aware of the health xenophobia that has been happening in South Africa. He says he has been in South Africa for two months and knows what is happening. When Journal News asked what put him in Pelenomi hospital, he said he had an accident at work which landed him in casualty. “Maimle told Journal News that he did not struggle to get assistance. “I am happy with the service and everything was given to me for free. I did not struggle and I did not pay anything. “I have done the tests and right now I am waiting for the doctor to see me so they can give me my test results, he said. In a formal letter addressed to the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Health Dr Aron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber and the South African Human Rights Commission, a Zimbabwean Activist, Duke Maplanka, accused the government of turning a blind eye to the barbaric treatment that the immigrants face. Maplanka said if action is not taken against the individuals or groups that are behind these acts, he intends to lay a complaint against South Africa in the international human rights bodies. “I write this letter as both a concerned African citizen and a representative voice of thousands of foreign nationals, especially Zimbabweans, living in South Africa, many of whom are routinely subjected to inhumane treatment, open hostility, and systemic exclusion from basic services. “It is with growing alarm that we have witnessed the escalation of xenophobic violence, the entrenchment of vigilante groups, and the active blocking of foreign nationals from accessing life-saving healthcare in South Africa, he said. Maplanka further said South Africa has taken moral and legal action to speak out against injustice in Gaza, while they are not innocent themselves. “How can South Africa claim the mantle of human rights defender abroad, when at home it presides over de facto ethnic cleansing through economic and medical exclusion?” Last month the SHRC expressed concerns over the individuals who are denied access to health care facilities. The commission says these events are unethical, unlawful, and inconsistent with South Africa’s obligations under both domestic and international human rights law. “The SAHRC is concerned that people are taking the law into their own hands and making it difficult for people to access medical care due to their nationality. “It is important to note that no civic group or individual has the legal authority to control access to public health facilities or to enforce immigration laws. “The power to inspect, arrest, or detain undocumented persons lies solely with the Department of Home Affairs supported by the South African Police Service (SAPS) when lawfully required. The commission urged both the Department of Home Affairs and SAPS to diligently perform their duties, to avoid citizens from taking the law into their hands.” Spokesperson for the Department of Health Foster Mohale, said, “While we understand the genuine concerns raised by the organised groups and individuals on the issue of undocumented migration or foreign nationals, and its burden to public health system, we do not condone the manner in which they raise them, which is through illegal means which go against the laws of the country”. He says no one has got the right to demand proof of identity document except for the rel evant authorities such as the law enforcement agencies. “Thus we call for law enforcement agencies to enforce the law into their hands. “We call upon concerned organizations and individuals suggest long term solutions to this issue which is a societal one in nature,” said.
In a major step towards advancing medical educa tion in South Africa, North West University (NWU) has officially begun the construction of the R600 million Desmond Tutu School of Medicine at its Potchefstroom campus. This milestone follows the approval granted by former Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla, in De cember 2023, which allows the university to pro ceed with establishing its own medical school. The Desmond Tutu School of Medicine will fea ture state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced medical technologies and innovative learning spac es. The facility aims to meet the increasing demand for skilled medical professionals while promoting research and improving community health servic es. Its establishment arrives at a crucial time, as the North West province continues to experience a se vere shortage of doctors and medical specialists. Once operational, it will become one of only 11 accredited medical schools in South Africa, with its first cohort of students expected to enrol in 2028. NWU has also established a strategic partnership with the North West Department of Health to pro vide students with hands-on clinical experience. This alliance also supports the broader goal of strengthening healthcare delivery across the prov ince. “The medical school buildings are a hub of new technology—an opportunity to implement best practices in medical education through immersive technology, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, high-fidelity simulation, laparoscopy, and diagnostic tools. In this tech-enhanced context, partnerships with the private sector become essential,” said NWU spokesperson Pietra Bester. The school will offer comprehensive medical training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, ensuring a strong balance between academic theory and practical application. “It represents the formal launch of a scholarly pursuit of the highest order: the establishment of a premier centre for medical education, research, and professional training,” NWU Vice-Chancellor, Profes sor Bismark Tyobeka, declared. Provincial health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, also emphasised the impor tance of the initiative. “Our health facilities across the province will serve as training grounds for these medical students. “As a predominantly rural province, this school will help address rural retention challenges, improve health equity, and promote research focused on the specific health needs of our communities,” added Lekgethwane. Construction is now underway and is expected to take between 18 and 20 months. According to Professor Binu Luke, project lead for the medical school, the facility will ultimately ac commodate over 400 students. “This building is planned for a maximum annual intake of 150 students. As students will remain at the facility for the first three years of study, it will serve up to 450 students at a time,” Luke disclosed. When the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine offi cially opens in 2028, it will mark the beginning of a new era for healthcare education in the province - one poised to close critical gaps in access to medical training and care while shaping the next generation of medical pioneers.
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.
