The executive mayor, Fikile Mahlophe and acting municipal manger, Baganne Choche, of the City of Matlosana Local Municipality have appeared before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in relation to the suspended paraffin aid for indigent households, on Monday, 12 January 2026 in Rustenburg.
Matlosana continues to fail qualifying indigent households in several areas like Jacaranda, Khuma, Tigane, Sunnyside, Kanana and Jouberton by suspending free paraffin provision.
Mahlophe’s appearance comes after the SAHRC indicated that it may open a criminal case against him, if he fails to appear before it on Monday morning. The commission had to subpoenaed him to account after an almost three-month non-response to the SAHRC.
The SAHRC indicated that Mahlophe is appearing before it after an investigation into a compliant lodged by the concerned resident, Xolani Tshabalala with the Commission on 2 September 2025, concerning the alleged non-provision of free paraffin to indigent households by Matlosana.
Tshabalala alleges that the supply of free paraffin to qualifying indigent residents was halted following the appointment of Mahlophe.
“Following receipt of the complaint, the Commission addressed correspondence to Councillor Mahlophe, requesting a response to the allegations. Despite follow-up correspondence and additional efforts to secure engagement, no response was received by the Commission within stipulated timeframes.”
SAHRC North West spokesperson Emmanuel Nkonde explained that the purpose of the hearing is to establish the facts, assess whether the alleged conduct implicates constitutional and human rights obligations, and determine whether any remedial action or recommendations are warranted.
The EFF spokesperson and member of the North West Provincial Legislature, Fanon Moema indicated that they want Mahlophe to be charged with contempt if he fails to appear before the SAHRC on Monday, 12 January 2026.
“It follows inevitably, therefore, that the quality of life amongst indigent residents of Matlosana has not improved since Mahlophe took over the reigns as a Mayor. It clearly appears that the Mayor has neglected his task to allocate scarce resources to the common good of all the people.
“As a result, better life in Matlosana is exclusively enjoyed by Mahlophe, his family and his staunch political allies. Quite evidently, the ANC-led government is perpetually misleading our people with their claim that they are committed to accelerating service delivery,” said Moema.
Appearing in the Commission, Mahlophe indicated that the decision to stop the distribution of free paraffin to indigent communities in the municipality was made by the council and not by him.
In addition, he indicated the Matlosana council had noted that providing free paraffin to those communities was financially unsustainable; hence, the programme was stopped.
“Upon my appointment there were several issues we looked into broadly around the sustainability of services.
“Council took a decision that it is not sustainable for the municipality to provide alternative energy in the form of paraffin from a financial point of view, as well as other aspects, including safety,” said Mahlophe.
The Auditor General (AG) of South Africa has established significant financial misconduct involving paraffin services within the municipality.
The key findings raised by the AG and related reports include double payments, lack of proper procedure and maladministration by the municipality. A specific instance was uncovered where a paraffin service provider was paid R6.2 million twice using the same order number, resulting in a direct financial loss to the municipality.
The AG’s investigation indicated a failure to follow proper supply chain management (SCM) procedures. Payments were made to companies without valid contracts and without adequate oversight.
“The auditor-general reflected this provision of paraffin almost as a material irregularity, as it was not market-related and was putting the municipality deeper into a financial crisis when it was already in a financial recovery plan,” he said.
“There were also allegations of corruption and some officials were arrested in relation to the abuse of the provision.”
According to Mahlophe, the city is currently electrifying the areas which were previously supplied with paraffin.
“The intention of the municipality was at no point intended to take away the rights of people of Matlosana by not giving them services in the form of paraffin.
“Where we are, as the municipality, for example, we have Alabama Ext 5 with 581 households we are electrifying, which used to benefit from the free paraffin.
“In Ext 31 we are implementing and also electrifying 618 houses. In Dominionville 58 houses were given solar.”
