Important Metropolitan Municipality council decided to go on recess instead of tabling its financial reports

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality council failed to submit its financial reports on time and went on recess to avoid taking responsibility until a new council is appointed.

Mangaung is located in the Free State province and is the economic and political powerhouse in the region.

The cities and towns within its jurisdiction include Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, Dewetsdorp, Soutpansberg, Vaal-Stadensrus, and Welkom. 

The Municipality’s administrative seat is in Bloemfontein, which also serves as the country’s judicial capital and hosts the Supreme Court of Appeal. 

Bloemfontein is famous for its tourist attractions, including its status as the city of roses and its rich history, with sites such as the Anglo-Boer War Museum.

The Mangaung Metro Municipality has been ANC-led and dominated since its establishment in 2000. 

As with many municipalities under ANC power in the province, it has been struggling with financial mismanagement and poor service delivery.

The Auditor-General’s (AG) audit findings for the 2025 financial year, for example, highlighted concerns about the poor service delivery experienced by residents.

It identified the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality as one of the metropolitan areas with the highest levels of financial distress.

“Despite years of interventions and promises of reform, Mangaung’s Financial Recovery Plan has been largely ineffective,” councillor Werner Pretorius of the DA said.

It used to be an ANC stronghold. However, due to corruption and mismanagement, the party lost its majority in the 2026 local government elections.

The ANC led with 33.91%, closely followed by the DA at 33.48%. The EFF secured 8.59%, VF Plus received 5.92%, and PA garnered 4.43%.

The ANC’s support dropped from 51% in the 2021 elections, which means that its traditional supporters have abandoned the party.

Missed deadlines in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality

On 27 October 2026, the Mangaung Metro Municipality held a meeting, and the council Speaker, Lawrence Mathae, placed the council in recess until 3 November. 

This was followed by the cancellation of the October 2026 council meeting to discuss concerns and reports required to secure funds. 

DA Councillor Hardie Viviers questioned this decision, arguing that it was intended to delay the tabling of its financial results.

“The council can convene to approve a recess but not to address critical statutory reports, outstanding oversight matters, and legislative non-compliance,” he said.

Vorster said Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi failed to report to the council on budget implementation and the Metro’s financial position. 

He claimed that the reports were finalised on 15 October 2026 and that there was sufficient time for the council to present them.

Instead, the council meeting to present these financials was cancelled, and they went into recess. 

The cancelled meeting was to discuss financial and performance reports that could affect the Municipality’s equitable share allocation for December 2026. 

In July 2026, the National Treasury announced that the Municipality’s equitable share transfers would be temporarily withheld until it resolves its non-compliance issues. 

The National Treasury expressed concerns regarding its ongoing financial non-compliance, including unauthorised and wasteful expenditure. 

The compliance report deadline was on 31 October 2026, which the council failed to meet. 

According to the law, the municipality has 10 working days after the end of October to submit the report. 

The ANC aimed to transfer the current council’s poor work and responsibilities to the new council, Vorster alleged. 

“The outgoing council must account for its decisions and the Municipality’s financial position before handing over to the newly elected council,” Viviers said. 

“An election does not suspend legal obligations or accountability.”