Important South African town under siege from its own residents
Residents in the embattled Ditsobotla municipality have taken matters into their own hands, shutting down municipal offices on 17 June 2025 and demanding that new leadership take over.
The latest action follows years of escalating dysfunction in the North West municipality (DLM), resulting in political chaos and service delivery issues.
According to an anonymous source, the shutdown is a peaceful demonstration by the communities determined to see the rule of law upheld and good governance restored in their municipality.
This marks yet another hit to residents, which COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa recently described as “one of the ten most distressed municipalities in the country”.
The DLM is currently paralysed by violent factional battles, with multiple individuals claiming the mayorship, speakership, and position of accounting officer.
The current protest is demanding that the elected Mayor and Speaker, Mazwi Moruri and Jarious Modisakeng, and the appointed Acting Municipal Manager, Rasupang Mooketsi, be allowed to take their rightful positions, as per a High Court order.
The most recent factional battle dates back to January 2025, when Municipal Manager Olaotse Bojosinyane was dismissed, only to be reinstated by a Labour Court ruling in February.
The municipality appealed this, ultimately suspending his return. On 4 March, Modisakeng held a council meeting in Lichtenburg to discuss this. Violence erupted outside.
Soon after, ANC, EFF, and other councillors met in Mafikeng, where Molefe Morutse and Manana Bogatsu were purportedly elected as mayor and speaker.
The existing leadership rejected their legitimacy, calling resignation letters used in the process “fake” and opening criminal cases.
The dispute moved to court, where it was argued that parallel structures were being created, undermining the municipality’s lawful operations.
The High Court granted an interdict preventing Bojosinyane, Morutse, and Bogatsu from acting in the contested positions.
It ordered Mooketsi to continue as acting municipal manager until all appeal processes are complete.
On 30 April, the court ruled that overturning the order would worsen instability and service delivery failures in what it called a “disorderly” municipality. “The directive has been ignored.”
“The communities have expressed their disappointment in the corruption that has plagued the municipality and have called upon the South African Police Service to uphold the law and protect the rights of the residents,” added the NPO.
The source also alleged that Morutse, Bogatsu, and Bojosinyana “have demonstrated their disregard for the well-being of municipal staff” by withholding salaries for selective workers over two months.
Notably, staff members aligned with Moruri and Modisakeng have not been paid for up to four months.
Service delivery takes a backseat
Political chaos in Ditsobotla continues to worsen service delivery, affecting residents and businesses with ongoing failures in water, electricity, sanitation, and roads.
Conditions have steadily declined over 15 years, prompting frequent protests. A recent visit by BusinessTech documented the worsening situation.
In 2021, Clover closed its flagship cheese factory in Lichtenburg, citing poor service delivery and widespread water, electricity, and road infrastructure problems.
Calls for national intervention from Sakeliga, the Ditsobotla Services Association, and the DA have increased amid the failure of provincial efforts.
The ANC may consider merging Ditsobotla with neighbouring municipalities after 2026 if problems persist.
The DA urges police deployment and restoration of law and order, while the DA plans to push for national government administration under Section 139(7).
Meanwhile, Morutse continues to reject criticism and claims legitimacy despite court orders.
“The communities urge the authorities to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure that the municipality is run in accordance with the law and the best interests of its residents,” said the source.
“The communities have sworn to keep the municipality offices closed until the rightful leaders can enter the premises, no matter the duration. Ultimately, the people demand the rightful and lawful placing in governance,” it added.
BusinessTech has attempted to get comment from the municipality, but communications officials said that they were “relieved of their duties.”
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