Matjhabeng Renaissance - Municipality that Put Batho Pele.

The Issue Implement Court Orders for Matjhabeng Local Municipality that Put Batho Pele

1.1    The Matjhabeng Municipality is declared to have breached section 152(2) of the               Constitution, in failing to strive, within its financial and administrative capacity to:

1.1.1      ensure the provision of services to its community in a sustainable manner;

1.1.2      promote social and economic development; and

1.1.3      promote a safe and healthy environment and its conduct is declared invalid to                  the extent of these inconsistencies.

1.2   It was declared that the Matjhabeng Municipality has breached section 153(a) of              the Constitution, in failing to structure and manage its administration and                        budgeting and planning processes to give priority to the basic needs of the                      community, and to promote the social and economic development of the                          community, and its conduct is declared invalid to the extent of these         inconsistencies.

1.3    It was declared that the Matjhabeng Municipality, as a result of a crisis in its                     financial affairs, is in serious or persistent material breach of its obligations to                 provide basic services and to meet its financial commitments.

Seven months since 22 OCTOBER 2024 Court Order, our duly elected councillors in Municipal Council had not received a report with public participation or deliberate on the prescripts of the Court Order and many others Court orders issued in favour of the destituted communities.  

We, the ordinary voters, ratepayers and residents are paying the price for a system that no longer respect the rule of law and not works for the voter, ratepayer and resident.

We are hurt and denied the voice in the decisions of the Council. We have no democratic and accountable government for local communities and feel excluded from decisions that affect our life, property, safety, well-being, and future.

We, the undersigned voters, ratepayers and residents of Matjhabeng Local Municipality, respectfully call on the Premier of the Free State Province, the Member of the Executive Council for Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Free State Provincial Government and the Provincial Executive of the Free State Province, including the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the President of the Republic of South Africa to implement order number nine of the High Court they failed to apply seven months ago.

The orders are direct constitutional duties they owe us and could not have been hindered by the unlawful,  irregular appeal of the Municipal Manager without Council resolution.   

Our goal is not to undermine the Constitution’s founding values — but to ensure that Matjhabeng Municipality respect, promote and fulfil the constitution and the Court Order provisions diligently without undue delay and are clear, enforceable, sustainable, and centred on the will of the people.

We believe these Court Orders are necessary to: Protect our Local Government to govern on its own initiative, the local government affairs of its community with fresh mandate.   Promote accountable, Batho Pele governance, strengthen democracy and government for local communities Ensure that Matjhabeng Local Municipality resources and services serve those to whom they are constitutionally and morally owed Nothing about us without us- the involvement of communities and community organizations.    

We, the People — united as Matjhabeng Concerned Residents for Matjhabeng Renaissance — call for immediate application of the Court Order number nine reforms that delivers:

1. Fresh Start Mandate -Accountable Governance

“9.1    Dissolve the council of the Matjhabeng Municipality, appoint an administrator until a newly elected council for the Matjhabeng Municipality has been declared elected, and approve a temporary budget or revenue-raising measures or any other measures giving effect to the recovery plan to provide for the continued functioning of the Matjhabeng Municipality;”

Our vote is our voice and a living document. It should evolve with the needs of the people and the demands of a modern, local government to make Local Government work.

Court Orders must be respected and applied deligently without undelay or politics.

This demand will deliver democratic and accountable government for the local communities, restore the social contract between the Municipal Council and its voters, and ensure that local resources and services serve those to whom they are constitutionally and morally owed.

If you support these demands, sign this petition today. Your endorsement will be added to the official submission to the decision makers. Petition Deadline: 27 June 2025.

Let us stand for Local Government that puts its voters, ratepayers and residents first.

NB: Matjhabeng Concerned Residents is a temporary civic body established specifically to coordinate and lead this demand and public engagement to promote the rule of law. Once it has served its purpose, it will be dissolved.

Joseph Ndayi    Contact the author of the petition