SAMWU Welcomes Removal of Mohokare Local Municipality Mayor, Calls For ANC to be Consistent in Decision Making

April 9, 2025 adminPress

9 April 2025

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the Free State wholeheartedly welcomes the decision of the African National Congress (ANC) to remove Zingiswa Mgawuli from her position as Executive Mayor of Mohokare Local Municipality. This long-overdue decision represents a crucial step towards restoring ethical leadership and accountable governance in a municipality that has suffered tremendously under her administration. For far too long, the residents of Mohokare have endured the devastating consequences of systemic maladministration, financial irregularities, and a complete disregard for service delivery, while municipal workers faced unprecedented hardship due to delayed salaries and non-payment of critical benefits.

During Mgawuli’s tenure, Mohokare Local Municipality experienced a catastrophic collapse in basic service provision, with deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable water and electricity supply, and failing waste management services becoming the norm rather than the exception. The situation for municipal workers was equally dire, with persistent delays in salary payments and the non-remittance of third-party deductions including pension contributions, medical aid payments, and funeral benefit funds. These were not mere administrative failures but constituted gross violations of workers’ rights and a dereliction of the municipality’s fundamental obligations to both its employees and the community.

SAMWU has consistently raised concerns about the mismanagement and alleged corruption that characterised Mgawuli’s leadership, which created an environment where resources were squandered, workers were mistreated, and community needs were systematically neglected. While SAMWU acknowledges this removal as a positive development, we must emphasise that it cannot be an isolated action. The ANC must demonstrate the same commitment to rooting out corruption and maladministration across all troubled municipalities in the Free State province.

The situation in Mohokare bears disturbing similarities to the crises unfolding in other municipalities such as Matjhabeng, Mangaung, and Maluti-a-Phofung, where poor governance, financial mismanagement, and service delivery failures have become entrenched. We call for immediate intervention to stabilise Mohokare’s administration, including the implementation of a comprehensive recovery plan to restore basic services and rectify the injustices suffered by municipal workers. Furthermore, we demand a full forensic investigation into all allegations of corruption and financial misconduct during Mgawuli’s term, with those found guilty facing appropriate consequences.

SAMWU remains deeply concerned about the broader pattern of governance failures across Free State municipalities and insists on urgent provincial intervention to address these systemic issues. The people of the Free State deserve functional municipalities led by ethical, competent leaders who prioritise service delivery above all else. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and maintain our unwavering commitment to fighting for workers’ rights, transparent governance, and accountable leadership at all levels of local government. This moment must serve as a turning point for the ANC to demonstrate its stated commitment to clean governance and to take decisive action against all instances of maladministration, without exception or favour.

Issued by SAMWU Free State

Thabang Tseuoa
Provincial Secretary
082 620 9160

Sandla Mahlati
Provincial Chairperson
072 658 0725