Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Carina Serfontein and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Joseph Mbele.
The dissolution of the Ngwathe Municipal Council marks the end of one chapter in our municipality’s history, but it is also the beginning of rebuilding a municipality that works.
Following the implementation of the Court’s order under Section 139 of the Constitution, every elected councillor, regardless of political party or position, has ceased to hold office. This includes all ward councillors, PR councillors, the Executive Mayor, the Speaker, the Chief Whip, Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs), and every other elected political office within the Municipal Council.
There are no serving councillors in Ngwathe. It is equally important to understand what has not changed.
The municipality continues to operate. Municipal officials, directors, technical teams, administrative staff and operational employees remain at work and continue to perform their responsibilities under the authority of the appointed Administrator. Service delivery must continue, and the administration remains responsible for ensuring that residents receive the municipal services to which they are constitutionally entitled.
We respect the Court’s decision and believe that this intervention presents an opportunity to restore accountability after years of governance failures that led to the collapse of basic municipal services.
Although we no longer serve as elected councillors, our commitment to the people of Ngwathe remains.
The DA will continue to be present in every community, listening to residents, monitoring service delivery and exercising strong public oversight throughout the administration period.
We will:
- Monitor the implementation of the Court-ordered recovery plan.
- Conduct regular oversight visits to municipal infrastructure and service delivery projects.
- Escalate unresolved matters to the relevant authorities where necessary.
- Maintain open communication channels for residents to report service delivery failures.
- Follow up on reported matters and keep communities informed through regular public updates.
We will continue to be the voice of residents and the watchdog over the administration. We will support progress where it is made, but we will not hesitate to expose failures, challenge delays and demand accountability whenever the people of Ngwathe are being let down.
Residents should continue reporting failures in municipal service delivery. While political offices have fallen away, our responsibility to serve our communities remains.
The Council has been dissolved. Our commitment has not.
Ngwathe deserves better. The DA will continue fighting for a municipality that works.