All eyes are on the trouble-ridden Metsimaholo Local Municipality in the Free State ahead of the local government elections on 1 November.
The municipality, which includes Sasolburg in the northern Free State, has been dogged by political infighting and lapses in governance.
In July 2017, the council was dissolved almost a year after the 2016 local government elections, for failing to pass a budget.
It was controlled by a coalition which included the Metsimaholo Community Association and the Democratic Alliance (DA), supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Association member of the executive committee, Lennox Mashiya says, “We are forever prepared for whatever may come from the election results. The results will determine as to whether we [are] going to be an outright majority, or we are going into a coalition arrangement.”
Meanwhile, in 2019, long running political battles in the municipality left residents desperately deprived of service delivery.
Political parties unwilling to work together in the local municipality resulted in roads in bad condition, unfinished RDP houses and a R22-million multi-purpose centre that is incomplete.
Metsimaholo Local Municipality put under administration:
