The troubled Nketoana municipality in Free State has been plunged into deeper uncertainty after both its mayor, Mamiki Mokoena, and speaker, Busisiwe Makhoba, resigned.
Their sudden exit comes at a time when the ANC is moving to reshuffle leadership in struggling Free State municipalities.
At the parliamentary portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional
affairs in July, Nketoana leadership admitted to years of instability, financial mismanagement, and R535-million in irregular spending – amongst other things.
The ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) met with national party leadership on Friday to discuss the redeployment of mayors in Moqhaka, Masilonyana, Nketoana, Mafube, Letsemeng and Lejweleputswa.
For Nketoana, the resignations mark the latest blow to a municipality that has long been under fire for collapsing services and poor governance.
Local residents have endured water shortages, stalled infrastructure projects, crumbling roads, and the usage of the bucket system, while the municipality’s finances remain in disarray.
ANC Youth League sub-regional secretary Masentle Molete did not hold back in her criticism for the outgoing leadership.
She said Nketoana has been one of the worst-performing municipalities in the province and urgently needed intervention.
“We stand firm and in support of the decision taken by the African National Congress PEC of redeployment of the troika and in understanding that they want to regain trust in our
people,” said Molete.
She added that it was unacceptable for the municipality to struggle with service delivery despite receiving its equitable share.
Molete said Nketoana should not rely solely on this funding but also improve its revenue collection.
Molete said the failures of the municipality’s leadership had drained the ANC’s dignity and image.
“In 2023, Department of Water and Sanitation projects commenced in all four towns of Nketoana to construct reservoirs.
“All of those contractors failed to reach the project due date; some failed to report to the site this year, and there is no action taken for non-performance.
“The pavement in Petsana also remains questionable as well, and these projects attract bad publicity, in addition to poor service delivery.
“A service provider from Durban was appointed to use its TLB [tractor-loader-backhoe] in Nketoana, while we have businesses that can provide such service in Nketoana,” said Molete.
She said small businesses must be provided opportunities to help grow the local economy.
The ANC is expected to announce replacements for the mayor and speaker in Nketoana, but for residents, the immediate question remains whether the new leadership will finally deliver change.
