By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) in Free State removed mayors, speakers and chief whips in seven struggling municipalities, citing persistent governance failures, allegations of corruption and and the erosion of service delivery.
The PEC announced the outcomes of the special meeting that sat on Wednesday, 19 August 2025.
The provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng said the reshuffle was part of a wider intervention to stabilise municipalities plagued by persistent audit disclaimers, weak leadership and poor service delivery.
“Communities have endured years of poor governance and allegations of corruption. The ANC has a responsibility to act decisively to restore credibility and ensure basic services reach our people,” Motsoeneng said.
The AG’s report painted a bleak picture of municipal performance in the Free State. Of the municipalities assessed, not one received a clean audit.
The report highlighted that the province is plagued by poor financial reporting, widespread non-compliance with legislation, and deteriorating infrastructure.
The AG noted that the situation has worsened over time. In 2023/24, six municipalities in the Free State failed to submit their financial statements, up from four the year before.
The AG report noted that many municipalities lack proper planning, clear performance indicators, and basic recordkeeping. This undermines any effort to assess progress or make informed decisions on service delivery.
Municipalities affected are Moqhaka, Mafube, Letsema, Nala, Masilonyana, Nketoana and Lejweleputswa.
A PEC report flagged corruption allegations as a recurring issue in several of the affected municipalities.
While Motsoeneng did not name individual councillors implicated in wrongdoing, he confirmed that the PEC had directed provincial structures to cooperate with formal investigations, including the use of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, which allows the provincial government to probe maladministration and fraud.
Motsoeneng linked the reshuffle to the ANC’s broader “renewal project,” which seeks to strengthen governance, deliver on election manifesto commitments and reconnect with disillusioned voters.
Financially, the Free State municipalities are in dire straits. The province incurred net losses of R744.98 million, and 81% of its municipalities had enough cash to sustain operations for only one month or less.
The Eskom debt crisis remains unresolved. Although total arrears dropped slightly, from R6.47 billion to R6.22 billion, this was due mainly to participation in Eskom’s debt-relief programme.