VIDEO | City responds to Mangaung shutdown as metro prepares to table budget tomorrow

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – Mangaung Metro Municipal Manager Sello More says the recent shutdown linked to the growing “Mabahambe” campaign had a major impact on municipal operations, with service delivery disruptions affecting several parts of the metro.

Speaking to Step Up News ahead of the municipality’s budget tabling tomorrow, More explained that transport interruptions during the shutdown prevented many municipal workers from reporting for duty.

The shutdown forms part of growing protests seen in different parts of South Africa linked to frustrations around illegal immigration, with demonstrators calling for undocumented foreigners to leave the country under the “Mabahambe” campaign.

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According to More, workers travelling from areas including Botshabelo were unable to reach work due to disruptions caused by the protest action.

As a result, services such as solid waste collection were affected in major areas across Mangaung.

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More also highlighted the financial difficulties facing the municipality, revealing that residents owe the metro more than R6 billion.

He pleaded with residents to meet the municipality halfway by paying for services, saying the city’s ability to improve service delivery largely depends on revenue collection as well as grants received by the municipality.

“The budget depends on what we are able to collect and the grants we receive,” More indicated while discussing the metro’s financial position ahead of the budget sitting.

Despite the disruptions, More said the municipality continues to engage different stakeholders in an attempt to stabilise the situation and improve communication between the city and communities.

He revealed that the municipality is currently developing a memorandum of agreement with civil society organisations, adding that parts of the draft have already been shared with some organisations.

According to More, the city anticipates that the agreement could be signed next week.

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The municipality is expected to table its budget tomorrow, with residents expected to closely watch whether the metro’s financial plans will address growing service delivery frustrations and infrastructure challenges facing communities across Mangaung.

This is a developing story.

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