The African National Congress in the Free State has emphasized the importance of party discipline and ethical leadership, following the recent court appearance of a local mayor on assault charges.
The mayor appeared before the Wesselsbron Magistrate’s Court facing allegations of common assault, reportedly stemming from an incident in which she is accused of verbally and physically confronting her driver. Audio recordings allegedly capturing the mayor directing insults toward the driver later spread across social media platforms, drawing the attention of provincial party leadership.
Speaking to journalists in Bloemfontein, the ANC deputy provincial secretary expressed concern that the circulating content could damage the party’s reputation. He reaffirmed that all ANC leaders are expected to demonstrate conduct aligned with the movement’s foundational values and its ongoing organizational renewal agenda. In light of the serious nature of the allegations, the party confirmed it will refer the matter to its internal constitutional and disciplinary processes, with precautionary steps to be considered in line with established organizational guidelines.
The briefing also covered the party’s progress on restructuring seven municipalities across the Free State. Officials acknowledged that the reconfiguration process has faced delays, partly due to pushback from some municipal leaders regarding proposed redeployments. The deputy provincial secretary noted that all party deployees have received explicit directives, and the provincial office has strengthened its monitoring systems to track implementation. This includes activating the service delivery “war room” to expedite responses to community concerns. Addressing findings from the Auditor-General and parliamentary portfolio committees on municipal maladministration remains a central focus.
On the topic of immigration, the deputy chairperson of the ANC in the Free State appealed to South Africans to avoid worsening immigration challenges by sheltering undocumented foreign nationals. He called on property owners to take responsibility by verifying whether individuals renting their premises to run businesses—such as spaza shops—are legally documented to reside and operate in the country. He stressed that collective community action is essential to address undocumented presence, noting that employing or harboring individuals without proper documentation is a criminal offense under South African law.
The party also provided clarity on the postponement of the Mangaung regional conference. Leadership confirmed that structures will meet on Monday to deliberate and finalize a new date for the gathering.
The statements were made during a media engagement convened by the Free State ANC in Bloemfontein, addressing several matters of public interest arising from recent developments in the province.