The City of Matlosana Local Municipality officially concluded its 2021–2026 political term on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, as the full house gathered for its final historic Council meeting at the Municipal Chamber.
Led by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Stella Mondlane-Ngwenya, the 77-member legislative body—comprising both directly elected Ward Councillors and Proportional Representation (PR) Councillors—marked the end of a five-year tenure dedicated to shaping local governance. Over the course of the term, this collective body carried the vital responsibilities of drafting municipal by-laws, approving budgets, passing policy frameworks, adopting the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), and exercising strict oversight to ensure effective service delivery across all communities.
The final sitting brought together the municipality’s entire political and administrative leadership.
The chamber was attended by the Executive Mayor, Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs), the Chief Whip, and the Chairpersons of various Section 79 and portfolio committees. Supporting the political wing as they wrapped up their duties was the municipality’s top administrative team, led by Municipal Manager Ms Lesego Seametso alongside various directors and senior officials.
In a poignant moment of reflection during the proceedings, the Speaker and Council paused to honour and remember three councillors who passed away during the term, paying tribute to their lasting contributions and dedicated service to the people of Matlosana.
In her closing address, Speaker Mondlane-Ngwenya expressed deep gratitude to the councillors for their unwavering dedication to their respective constituencies.
While acknowledging that the term was often fraught with political difficulties and sharp differences of opinion, Mondlane-Ngwenya emphasised that these friction points served as valuable lessons. She urged the departing representatives to leave the chamber in a spirit of forgiveness and to use their shared experiences to help build a better future, reminding them that political rivalries must always take a back seat to their primary responsibility—the well-being of the residents of Matlosana.
Executive Mayor, Cllr Fikile Mahlophe, also extended his heartfelt thanks to all councillors, officials, and staff for their hard work and input throughout the term. Mahlophe noted that while the chamber did not always share a unified political view, these differences did not stop the development of meaningful professional relationships and lifelong friendships.
As the floor opened, individual councillors were granted the opportunity to deliver their final remarks. They shared words of gratitude with colleagues across the political aisle, but also used the platform to raise critical concerns about accountability, stressing that both Council and the administration must always operate strictly within the law.
The meeting ultimately concluded on a powerful note of reflection, appreciation, and hope for the future.
In its final send-off, the City of Matlosana wished all outgoing councillors well in their future endeavours, while issuing a final, firm call to the municipal administration to continue serving the institution and local communities with absolute professionalism, integrity, and without any partisan bias.
