SASOLBURG, FREE STATE — The Service Movement for Metsimaholo (SMM) is contesting the 2026 local government elections for the first time, marking a significant transition from a grassroots service-delivery civic movement to a formal political party.
Originally formed as the Metsimaholo Stakeholders Forum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the community access much-needed services, the movement has evolved in response to persistent municipal challenges. Residents have long faced unreliable water and electricity supplies, inconsistent refuse collection, deteriorating roads, and inadequate street lighting. According to movement leaders, the community has been failed on two fronts: through the steady decline of basic municipal services, and within the council chamber, where years of hung councils, unstable coalitions, and revolving mayors have undermined accountability and effective governance.
Members of the movement point to a visible regression in the municipality over the years, describing a decline from tar to gravel roads as a stark symbol of broader infrastructure decay. Recognizing that the task of restoring services was too big to remain solely a civic organization, the group has registered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and is now hopeful of securing an outright majority in the municipality.
“We started because of the collapse of services, the decay of our infrastructure, and an economy that does not grow to serve our people,” explained a spokesperson for the Service Movement for Metsimaholo. “We realized we needed to register with the IEC to change the setup of the municipality. Politicians often rely on popularity contests; we wanted a competency contest. That is why our councilors were chosen on the basis of interviews.”
The movement’s manifesto, which incorporates input from stakeholders across various sectors of the economy, focuses heavily on economic development and job creation. A key pillar of their platform is revitalizing the township economy through targeted legislation and attracting new investment.
“We want to take over the township economy through legislation by law that we are going to pass, and we also want to get new investment into our economy,” the spokesperson noted. “However, we have a problem with service delivery. In Sasolburg town, we need to get a new sewer plant so that we can unlock the development and growth of the town, creating more employment for our youth. We also want to use municipal procurement to revitalize our economy by ensuring that we use local goods to strengthen the tender system.”
The organization already boasts several impactful projects, including facilitating access to the mining sector for small businesses, driving job creation, and establishing youth-owned enterprises. A spokesperson for the Metsimaholo Stakeholders Forum highlighted their success in engaging local industries to give back to the area.
“We managed to engage with Sasol in terms of the mining charter, ensuring that the community must have a 5% share from the mines and industries around us,” the spokesperson stated. “They agreed to place an advert to select a representative from the community who will take the needs of the community to the trust.”
Local youth have expressed strong support for this entrepreneurial focus. “I would like them to empower and motivate young people to start their own businesses, as we don’t have jobs here in South Africa,” said a local youth stakeholder. “If they address entrepreneurship for young people, it is going to work for us because we are struggling to find jobs.”
Furthermore, the Service Movement for Metsimaholo has partnered with a local shelter fighting gender-based violence (GBV) in the area. The center manager of the shelter emphasized the practical, tangible impact the movement could have on vulnerable residents.
“I believe they are in a position to assist,” the center manager said. “When you speak about service delivery from where I am, I think mostly about our victims. The local municipality has a role to play in ensuring that, as a shelter and an NPO, our rates and taxes are not charged like a normal domestic house. I believe they can assist because they understand the work that we do.”
The Service Movement for Metsimaholo is contesting all wards in Sasolburg and will also appear on the Fezile Dabi district ballot paper, signaling a comprehensive push to reshape local governance and deliver tangible results for the community in the 2026 local government elections.
