TLOKOENG, Eastern Cape — Residents of Tlokoeng, historically known as Mount Fletcher, have officially formed the Mount Fletcher Community Voice (MFCV), a new community-centred political party gearing up to contest the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections. Frustrated by what they describe as years of government neglect and unresponsive leadership, locals are mobilizing to secure direct representation and restore dignity to their town.
The newly established party has outlined clear, urgent priorities for the community: securing reliable access to potable water, upgrading deteriorating road infrastructure, and delivering decent housing for indigent households.
Hendry Mgijima, president of the MFCV, emphasized that the community’s patience has run out after repeated cycles of unfulfilled promises.
“We keep on voting for them, but nothing changes. They don’t come to us, and when they do, they are arrogant. The officials act as if they own the country,” Mgijima stated. “That is why we have decided, as the people, that this time our vote must belong strictly to this area of Mount Fletcher. This organization does not contest presidential, premier, or provincial elections. It is specifically for Mount Fletcher, because we are the people facing the brunt of the service delivery crisis here.”
The grassroots movement is fueled by daily hardships. Lisa Mbuyeye, an MFCV member, highlighted the severe lack of basic amenities as the primary catalyst for the party’s formation.
“We do not have water. There is absolutely nothing. That is why we have decided to form this political party,” Mbuyeye explained. “We want to challenge the municipality officials as to why people do not have access to basic services. Every time we demand services, they always tell us that they do not have a budget.”
Beyond water scarcity, the community reports that most rural villages in the area remain inaccessible, with widespread failures in both clean water provision and electricity supply. Residents also pointed to a stalled local economic development project, noting that they are standing on a site where a shopping mall was supposed to be built, yet there has been absolutely no progress to date.
Mgijima further illustrated the community’s isolation, noting that residents are forced to travel to neighboring towns such as Aliwal North and Elliot to access basic institutional services that were originally meant to be housed locally.
The MFCV has framed its electoral campaign as a unified mission to remove corrupt politicians through the power of the ballot box. Community leaders assert that past leadership has continuously undermined indigenous residents, treating the town as insignificant while politicians “come and go without servicing us.”
As the 2026 Local Government Elections approach, the people of Tlokoeng remain resolute. By fielding their own localized candidates, the Mount Fletcher Community Voice aims to transform years of frustration into tangible political accountability and long-overdue infrastructural renewal.
