A special council meeting to elect a new Executive Mayor of Moqhaka Local Municipality has collapsed after the African National Congress (ANC) councillors in the municipality were instructed not to attend, leaving the meeting with at least twenty-two (22) councillors of the opposition parties, to break the quorum on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.
City Report has learnt that the regional leaders of ANC in Fezile Dabi region have allegedly briefed twenty-two (22) councillors of the party to delay the election of councillor Ramasimong Tau and Nthabiseng Mokodutlo Magengenene as the Executive Mayor and the Council Speaker of Moqhaka, which includes Kroonstad, Steynsrus, and Viljoenskroon in the Free State.
The ANC national leadership has taken a decision to pronounce Tau as the new mayoral candidate of the municipality, after Magengenene failed to make it as the preferred candidate. Magengenene will be introduced in the council as a Proportional Representative (PR) councillor, who is elected through a party list system. Speaking on the basis of anonymity, a source from the region said that the election of Tau would have influenced delegates from Moqhaka to not elect some of the members who are campaigning to be re-elected as the top five (5) of the region.
“Tau was chosen by the national leadership of the ANC from Chief Albert Luthuli House. The regional leadership are delaying the election of the Tau in the council because they wanted Nthabiseng to be the mayor. Unfortunately she did not qualify.
“The election of Tau would have compromised and dealt with their ambitions and plans of the upcoming regional conference. It would have demoralised their forces in Moqhaka due to the promises that they have made to them,” said by a source in the region. The Fezile Dabi region is expected to convene a regional conference on Friday, 24 April until Sunday, 26 April 2026 at the Ngwathe Local Municipality, in Parys.
The municipality is currently experiencing a severe service delivery and financial crisis, with reports indicating it is technically bankrupt. Residents face consistent water shortages, sewage
spills, and mounting potholes. Sewage contamination has affected the Vaal River due to a lack of maintenance on treatment plants.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Moqhaka has indicated that they will be writing to the office of the Municipal Manager to hold councillors accountable for not attending council meeting.
“ANC councillors didn’t just miss a meeting… they completely failed to show up with no apology, no accountability, and no respect for residents or the democratic process. With key leadership positions vacant and a council that can’t even convene, Moqhaka is being left in limbo, and residents are paying the price.
“The DA has had enough. We are calling for immediate consequence management. Good governance is not optional. It’s a responsibility.”
Resignation of Executive Mayor and Council Speaker
The council meeting follows the resignation of councillor Motloheloa Mokatsane as Executive Mayor and councillor Selloane Khiba as Council Speaker. The two submitted their resignation effective from 17 and 20 April 2026. According to the municipal spokesperson, Dika Kheswa, municipality’s day to day operations, projects, and services to communities will not be affected by these resignations.
“Moqhaka Local Municipality is taking this opportunity to thank both Cllr Khiba and Cllr Mokatsane for their commitment and dedication in service of the Municipality and the residents of Moqhaka and wishes them well in their future endeavours,” said Kheswa. City Report has recently reported families who were burying their loved ones on Saturday, 7 April 2026, were disappointed to see these signs of neglect at the Rammolutsi cemetery. These resting places, often intended to be serene, frequently become distressing sights for visitors, highlighting a lack of dignity and respect for the deceased.
“The shocking state of cemeteries in Moqhaka has reached a boiling point, with communities calling for urgent action. Following recent rains, accessing loved ones’ graves has become a near-impossible task, with overgrown grass and bush waist-high, making it a distressing experience for families.
“The neglect is not only disrespectful but also raises serious concerns about the municipality’s commitment to maintaining these sacred spaces. Families deserve dignity when visiting loved ones, but Moqhaka’s cemeteries are woefully short of it,” said Cllr. Chris Dalton – DA Moqhaka Mayoral Candidate.
At the time of publishing the article, City Report could not get a response from the ANC spokesperson.
