Mangaung: Municipal snapshot | EWN Elections - EWN

Mangaung functions as the Free State's administrative and economic hub and serves as the country's judicial capital.

LGE 2026 | Municipal snapshot | Free State Metro 4 of 9 Mangaung Water treatment failure Mangaung functions as the Free State's administrative and economic hub and serves as the country's judicial capital. It is the only metro under an active national administration. 1 What makes the metro unique Free State Mangaung Bloemfontein Mangaung No. 1 Largest metro by land area "Place of the Cheetahs" What its name means Judicial capital Of the country, and the Free State's administrative and economic hub Economy A diverse and resilient economy, with strong sectors such as: Finance Trade Manufacturing Government Education Creative arts Mining Source: Mangaung Annual Report 2024-25 ~40% Contribution to provincial GDP On average, close to 40% 2% Contribution to national GDP

2 Provincial and national intervention Mangaung is currently under a formal Section 139(7) national administration. It is the only metro to be under an active, current national (s139(7)) administration, rather than a provincial intervention or an escalating warning. Dec 2019 Apr 2022 Now Earlier provincial intervention Section 139(7) national administration takes effect Still under active national administration Source: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

3 Demographics 811 431 Population Census 2022 Residents with access to 297 147 Number of households AGSA 33% Unemployment 2026: Q2 95.5% 91.0% 71.0% 59.9% Electricity for lighting Piped water inside dwelling Flush toilet Weekly refuse removal

4 Auditor General report 2024-2025 4th Opinion: Qualified with findings A fourth consecutive qualified audit, after a financially unqualified opinion in 2020-21. 2024/25 2023/24 2022/23 2021/22 2020/21 Qualified audit Qualified audit Qualified audit Qualified audit Financially unqualified The metro's audit outcome regressed over the administration due to persistent governance failures and a weak control environment. The absence of consequence management, compounded by a poor leadership culture and a weak ethical tone, allowed these failures to persist. Throughout the administration the metro published unreliable performance reports and maintained high levels of non-compliance. This was further demonstrated by the high number of MIs raised, which resulted or is likely to result in material financial losses, harm to the public and the continued failure to prevent, detect and respond to legislative transgressions. Leadership Stable leadership The political and administrative leadership of the metro was stable, following a period of instability from 2020-21 to 2023-24. Service delivery constrained Evident in the persistent delays in infrastructure projects, inadequate maintenance of existing infrastructure and challenges in the provision of water, sanitation and waste management services. Oversight failures The council and the mayor failed to exercise effective oversight; the accounting officer and senior management failed to address control weaknesses. No accountability These failures reflect weaknesses in the execution of projects, poor contract management and a lack of accountability, which negatively affect the delivery of services to communities. Financial health 9years Going concern disclosed for nine consecutive years For nine years it hasn't had enough money to keep operating, and its own recovery plans aren't fixing that. Ekurhuleni and Mangaung are the two most financially distressed of the metros. Conditional grants, 2024/25 R192m Went unspent R141m Had to be returned to Treasury Of that was meant for informal settlement upgrades R49m Municipality says investigations are "underway." Source: Auditor-General of South Africa, MFMA 2024-25 50% Service delivery targets achieved

5 UIFWE (unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, wasteful expenditure) Unauthorised expenditure R5bn Over four years 2024/25 2023/24 R1.4bn R1.5bn Irregular expenditure R3.4bn Balance entering 2024/25 Plus another R216 million added during the year. "No investigations were performed or disciplinary steps taken" The financial statements state this plainly, despite the scale of unauthorised and irregular spending. Development SIU instructed to investigate End of July 2026: the SIU was formally instructed to investigate serious maladministration and unlawful spending at the metro. Credit rating Withdrawn Moody's withdrew its credit ratings for the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, citing business reasons including unsolicited ratings and a lack of sufficient information. Business Day, 10 March 2026

6 Council and management Controlling party ANC mayor mr gregory nthlatsi Council: 101 seats Composition of council ANC DA EFF VF Plus AASD PA ACDP AIC ATM Controlling party: ANC Mayor: Mr Gregory Nthlatsi (ANC). The ANC holds 51 of 101 seats. 51 26 12 5 2 2 1 1 1 ANC 51 ANC seats DA EFF Others

7 Service delivery 2024-2025 Water loss (non-revenue water) 48% Translates into a loss of R496m Mangaung National average 48% 47% 2024-2025 Electricity loss 10% Translates into a loss of R282m Mangaung National average 10% 25% 2% vs 8% standard Maintenance Mangaung spent just 2% of its budget on infrastructure repairs and maintenance, against National Treasury's 8% safety standard, underspending directly linked to the water and sanitation breakdowns. Confirmed finding SAHRC report: finding against Mangaung Metro The SAHRC released its Free State local government service-delivery inquiry report on 19 November 2024, following persistent complaints about water, electricity, sanitation and refuse access. It finds against 18 municipalities, Mangaung Metro, the provincial Water and Sanitation Department, and CoGTA, citing: Neglected infrastructure maintenance Weak refuse removal Sewage spillages breaching constitutional duties Section 27(1)(b) water-rights violations Eskom and water-board debt Vandalism Bucket toilets Source: South African Human Rights Commission, 19 November 2024 Water crisis 112 ML/day Lost to leaks and billing failures Nearly half of what it buys 68 ML/day Daily demand shortfall 5.5% Of the funding needed for its 18 planned water-loss reduction strategies The municipality says losses improved in 2025/26, but slower than hoped. Communities like Extension 26 (Thaba Nchu) and parts of Botshabelo have no formal water connection at all; residents queue at boreholes or church taps, often before sunrise. Source: GroundUp Sewage and sanitation 0 of 13 Of the municipality's sewage treatment works are functioning properly, per DWS compliance data 7 score 0% on all four effluent-quality indicators. Sterkwater plant Its three Archimedes screw pumps are missing, so no sewage is even treated: about 25 million litres of raw sewage a day flows into: Roadside ditch 1 Renosterspruit 2 Modder River 3 Vaal River 4 Untreated sewage from the Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu plants flows into Maselspoort Dam, Bloemfontein's drinking- water source. A long-planned (12 years old) water re-use project to fix this remains unimplemented. Informal settlements with no sanitation service add to the pollution load; residents without pit toilets (ground too rocky) relieve themselves in the open. Source: GroundUp Lacking operating licences The AGSA MFMA 2024-25 states that Mangaung lacked a valid operating licence for its wastewater treatment works, along with: Buffalo City eThekwini Nelson Mandela Bay It also failed to maintain or safeguard those works, with: Buffalo City Tshwane Mangaung also lacked a valid licence for its solid-waste facility. Roads R7.5bn Needed to rehabilitate roads 60%+ Of Mangaung's roads are in poor condition Support for indigent households During the 2024/25 financial year: Received R1.1bn 163 684 households Reached R500m 67 022 households More than half of the intended beneficiaries were left without the support meant for them. Housing backlog 73 421units Total housing backlog as of February 2023 57 Informal settlements However, since 2016, 16 informal settlements have been upgraded, benefiting 9 485 households.

8 Infrastructure challenges and development The metro's 2025/26 budget address cites specific progress: Development 60% 1 797 Maselspoort Water Treatment Works upgrade Households electrified With 1 500 more expected by June 2025. Complete. Expected to raise treatment capacity from 45 ML/day to 110 ML/day. Jul 2024 Hauweng bus service launched As part of the city's public transport network. 16 Informal settlements upgraded since 2016 Benefiting 9 485 households.

9 Other news headlines Allegation Development Party statement Development Mangaung gets surprise mayor as ANC is ejected An April 2023 coalition collapse saw the ANC briefly lose the mayoral position to an opposition coalition backed by expelled ANC councillors. News24, 15 April 2023 Development ANC removes DA Speaker and regains full control of the metro News24, 21 September 2023 Allegation Mangaung Meltdown: bankrupt metro paid prices inflated by 1 500% to ANC-connected suppliers News24, 29 August 2025 Allegation Mangaung Meltdown: metro bleeds millions in overtime fraud, including payments to retirees News24, 12 September 2025 Development DA targets ANC stronghold Mangaung metro amid service delivery collapse News24, 9 February 2026 Party statement Mangaung's sewer crisis: a human rights scandal that can no longer be tolerated Cites an SAHRC finding that the metro violated residents' constitutional rights over sewage exposure. DA Free State, 29 July 2026 Development Elections 2026: blunders in Mangaung are poisoning Free State water The SIU was ordered to investigate the metro's water infrastructure in July 2026. GroundUp, 1 September 2026 Development Mangaung among three more municipalities affected in botched ANC list drama Regarding an IEC candidate-list submission dispute ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. News24, 3 September 2026 Apr 2023 Aug 2025 Sep 2023 Sep 2025 Sep 2026 Sep 2026 Feb 2026 Jul 2026 Also in the news Deputy President Mashatile embarks on a cleaning campaign in Mangaung, Free State The Presidency Bucket toilet crisis persists in Mangaung Bloemfontein Courant Sources Mangaung Annual Report 2024-25 | Stats SA Census 2022 | Auditor-General of South Africa, MFMA 2024-25 | Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs | South African Human Rights Commission | Business Day | GroundUp | News24 | The Presidency | DA Free State | Bloemfontein Courant | Mangaung 2025/26 budget address | EWN. Allegations and party statements are reported as such and have not been proven. Infographic: Dion V. Rademeyer / EWN Research: EWN