SASOLBURG, FREE STATE — As political parties gear up for the 2026 local government elections, Proudly Metsimaholo (PM) has unveiled a comprehensive manifesto aimed at rescuing the Metsimaholo Local Municipality from financial collapse. Focusing on economic growth, good governance, community upliftment, and youth empowerment, the party promises a tailored approach to address the region’s critical service delivery challenges.
In a recent interview detailing the party’s priorities, Proudly Metsimaholo spokesperson Thokozani Nhlapo highlighted the urgent need to reverse years of financial mismanagement and restore the municipality’s status as a thriving industrial hub.
Addressing Municipal Failures and Economic Revitalization
According to Nhlapo, the municipality is currently on the brink of collapse due to severe financial mismanagement, resulting in deteriorating basic services. Residents are currently facing unreliable water supply, poor road maintenance, and a lack of street lighting, forcing the municipality to rely heavily on water tankers.
“Metsimaholo is now experiencing serious financial challenges because of poor management of funds,” Nhlapo explained. “We are beginning to see poor quality services. For the longest time, we never had water tankers in our community, but now we are seeing them. That tells you the municipality has reached a very serious challenge.”
The party argues that the current council has a narrow view of the municipality’s potential. Situated strategically along the Vaal River and home to the industrial town of Sasolburg, the area boasts significant mining and industrial activities. However, Nhlapo warned that poor service delivery has alienated the private sector, with some companies threatening to relocate.
“To be successful, a municipality definitely has to work with the private sector, because the private sector creates job opportunities,” he noted. “The lost trust between the municipality and those companies has resulted in the financial situation we see today.”
Job Creation and Youth Empowerment
While Nhlapo declined to provide a specific numerical target for job creation, he stated the party’s goal is to ensure at least one decent job per household. The strategy relies on local procurement, investment attraction, and leveraging the area’s accessibility via the N1 and regional routes like the R59.
The party also plans to integrate agricultural initiatives by partnering with local farmers and the provincial and national governments to develop unused land. Furthermore, Proudly Metsimaholo intends to prioritize Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) through Local Economic Development (LED) programs, offering incubation projects and funding to stimulate grassroots job creation.
On youth empowerment, the party plans to move beyond short-term programs by utilizing registered Skills Development Facilitators (SDFs). By collaborating with local Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and big companies, the party aims to place young people in 4-to-12-month learnerships and internships, equipping them with relevant, practical experience.
Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Planning
Acknowledging that the municipality’s road infrastructure is in a critical state, Nhlapo admitted that fixing it solely through municipal funds would be prohibitively expensive. Instead, the party proposes a dual approach: fostering private-sector cooperation and implementing intentional urban planning.
Rather than solely focusing on expanding townships, Proudly Metsimaholo plans to identify strategic land for suburban and middle-class developments. “If we are intentional in terms of economic development, we’ll be able to identify strategic pieces of land for people who can afford to build their own houses and pay municipal services,” Nhlapo said. “We will use that revenue to subsidize and drive infrastructure development in areas with no source of income.”
Regarding the national housing backlog, the spokesperson acknowledged that the party cannot promise a house to everyone on the waiting list. To ensure fairness and prevent manipulation, Proudly Metsimaholo plans to conduct a strict audit of the housing database.
“We have areas where many people flocked in for political allocation of sites, but many already own land elsewhere. Sometimes people use their siblings or kids to register multiple times,” Nhlapo stated. “A proper screening mechanism to identify those who have never benefited from the government will definitely reduce this challenge.”
Revenue Collection Without Tariff Hikes
A cornerstone of the Proudly Metsimaholo manifesto is the commitment not to raise municipal tariffs or rates. Instead, the party intends to broaden the revenue base by increasing compliance and educating the public.
Nhlapo revealed that currently, less than 10% of households in the townships pay for municipal services. The party’s target is to increase this compliance rate to 60% through community engagement.
“For the longest time, political parties have been misleading the community about the indigent register, resulting in huge irrecoverable debt,” he explained. “We will have to write off some of those debts and properly educate the community. The indigent register is per household, not per person. Municipalities are businesses; without revenue, the municipality will collapse, and everybody will suffer.”
By expanding the paying base and fostering a cooperative relationship with both the private sector and residents, Proudly Metsimaholo believes it can stabilize the local economy and restore quality service delivery without placing an additional financial burden on existing ratepayers.
