HENNENMAN, Free State — As the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE 2026) approach, the newly formed Voice for Change (VFC) party has unveiled a bold manifesto aimed at resolving the Matjhabeng Local Municipality‘s crippling financial crisis, headlined by a promise to scrap its R23 billion debt to Eskom and Vaal Central Water.
The ambitious political platform was officially delivered to a gathered crowd at the Motseki Sports Ground in Phomolong, Hennenman, signaling a direct challenge to the current municipal leadership. By targeting the municipality’s combined utility debt of R23 billion, the party is positioning financial rehabilitation and local economic empowerment as the central pillars of their 2026 election campaign.
Beyond clearing the massive arrears owed to national and regional water and power entities, Voice for Change has pledged to fundamentally restructure local employment. The party’s strategy focuses on creating and strictly prioritizing job opportunities for residents originating from within the municipality’s borders.
Tabile Masunyane, Chairperson of Voice for Change, detailed the party’s pragmatic approach to job creation during the manifesto launch, emphasizing administrative cleanup before new hiring.
“To do is a headcount. We understand that the municipality previously has created more than 2,000 jobs. Now what we are going to do? We’re going to first start by doing a headcount,” Masunyane explained to the attendees.
Addressing the systemic issue of municipal payroll fraud, Masunyane highlighted that the current administration has already inadvertently exposed its own administrative flaws. “Whereby the mayor himself has said it on camera that they realize that there’s a lot of ghost employees. Now we are going to rectify that on those numbers of ghost employees,” he stated.
By eliminating these fictitious workers from the payroll, the party intends to free up crucial municipal funds and vacant positions. “On that number, we are going to employ children from Matjhabeng, people from Matjhabeng, in Matjhabeng. That’s where we’re going to start,” Masunyane affirmed, reinforcing their commitment to localized economic inclusion.
Furthermore, the newly formed party is pushing for a radical shift in municipal governance by decentralizing power. Voice for Change intends to make it a strict priority that the local community becomes directly involved in critical decision-making processes. This includes active community participation in the shortlisting of candidates for municipal positions and the adjudication of tenders, aiming to ensure transparency and eradicate the corruption that has historically plagued local procurement.
Through this comprehensive manifesto, Voice for Change is attempting to offer the voters of the Free State a transformative alternative, promising to turn the tide on service delivery failures by tackling the root causes of municipal debt and unemployment head-on.
