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 demand that Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality immediately halt the allocation of unserviced stands, implement a lawful land invasion prevention strategy, and present Council with a credible turnaround plan to prioritise long-neglected informal settlements and restore constitutional compliance.
The DA maintains that human settlements must be lawful, properly planned and supported by basic infrastructure before occupation. Where the DA governs, municipal land is protected, illegal invasions are prevented and serviced sites with water, sanitation, electricity and roads are provided ahead of settlement. In Mangaung, the ANC has abandoned this approach, with devastating consequences.
The municipality is now home to more than 50 informal settlements accommodating nearly 29 000 households. These so-called “paper towns” are not merely the result of organic growth, but of a sustained failure to enforce the law, plan appropriately and uphold constitutional obligations. This directly undermines Section 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to adequate housing. Adequate housing is more than a piece of land; it requires access to basic services and a safe, dignified living environment.
The scale of this failure is evident in settlements such as Dinaweng, Phomolong and Matlharantlheng. In Dinaweng, residents have endured more than a decade without proper sanitation, reliable water or electricity. In Phomolong, families remain in limbo awaiting township establishment and permanent infrastructure. In Matlharantlheng, inadequate roads, drainage and sanitation persist despite years of delay. This prolonged neglect also violates Section 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees access to sufficient water.
Allocating land without services is not housing delivery; it entrenches poverty and inequality. Mangaung’s governance reflects inconsistency, lawlessness and a failure to meet its obligations under Section 152 to provide accountable governance and basic services.
The people of Mangaung deserve equal treatment and dignified living conditions. The DA will continue to use council oversight, and community engagement to fight for properly planned, serviced human settlements across the metro.