By Andre Snyman | DA Councillor Mangaung Metro Municipality
Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Andre Snyman and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will take urgent action by escalating Mangaung Metro Municipality’s financial mismanagement to the Free State Provincial Legislature to demand accountability.
The DA will formally table the issue, calling for a full investigation into the R2 billion in unauthorised, irregular, and wasteful expenditure and the R1.3 billion debt owed to Centlec, which led to the disconnection of electricity to all government buildings.
Mangaung Metro’s financial collapse has reached crisis levels. The municipal power provider, Centlec, took the unprecedented step of cutting electricity to government offices due to non-payment—a clear indication of the administration’s failure to manage resources responsibly.
This mismanagement is not just a political scandal; it has real consequences for service delivery, investor confidence, and regional economic growth.
Instead of prioritising infrastructure, job creation, and debt repayment, the ANC-led municipality has allowed reckless spending and misgovernance to cripple the Metro. Under Executive Mayor Gregory Nhtatsi, development has stalled, with the municipality recording 0% progress on key projects. Meanwhile, attempts to attract investment through events like the Property Indaba and the upcoming Investment Summit ring hollow, as investors have no confidence in an administration that cannot manage its finances.
The ANC government’s failure to prioritise transparency and financial stability is driving investors away, limiting job opportunities, and threatening long-term growth. The DA presents a clear alternative: a government that enforces strict financial controls, eliminates corruption, and ensures clean audits to create an investor-friendly, service-driven municipality.
By fighting for transparency and accountability, the DA is committed to ensuring every rand spent drives growth, development, and service delivery for the people of Mangaung. Residents and investors deserve a municipality that works for them—not one that squanders their future.