Mafube Local Municipality
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Mafube
| official_name =
| other_name =
| native_name =
| settlement_type = Local municipality
| image_seal = Mafube_CoA.png
| seal_size = 150x100px
| image_map = Map of the Free State with Mafube highlighted.svg
| mapsize =
| map_alt = Location in the Free State
| map_caption = Location in the Free State
| coordinates =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = South Africa
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Free State
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Fezile Dabi
| seat = Frankfort
| parts_type = Wards
| parts = 9
| government_type = Municipal council
| leader_party = ANC
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Jabulani Sigasa
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 3971
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/southafrica/admin/free_state/FS205__mafube/ |title=Statistics by place |publisher=citypopulation.de |accessdate=17 February 2025}}
| population_total = 61150
| population_as_of = 2022
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup {{nobold|(2022)}}
| demographics1_title1 = {{nobold|Black African}}
| demographics1_info1 = 92.3%
| demographics1_title2 = {{nobold|Coloured}}
| demographics1_info2 = 0.5%
| demographics1_title3 = {{nobold|White}}
| demographics1_info3 = 7.0%
| demographics_type2 = First languages {{nobold|(2011)}}
| demographics2_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=964 |title=Statistics by place |publisher=Statistics South Africa |accessdate=27 September 2015}}
| demographics2_title1 = {{nobold|Sotho}}
| demographics2_info1 = 64.4%
| demographics2_title2 = {{nobold|Zulu}}
| demographics2_info2 = 20.9%
| demographics2_title3 = {{nobold|Afrikaans}}
| demographics2_info3 = 8.3%
| demographics2_title4 = {{nobold|Xhosa}}
| demographics2_info4 = 1.7%
| demographics2_title5 = {{nobold|Other}}
| demographics2_info5 = 4.7%
| timezone1 = SAST
| utc_offset1 = +2
| blank_name_sec1 = Municipal code
| blank_info_sec1 = FS205
| footnotes =
}}
Mafube Municipality ({{langx|st|Masepala wa Mafube}}; {{langx|zu|UMasipala wase Mafube}}) is a local municipality within the Fezile Dabi District Municipality, in the Free State province of South Africa.
Mafube is a Sesotho word meaning "dawning of the new day".[http://www.salanguages.com/munnames.htm South African Languages - Place names]
Main places
The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[http://www.statssa.gov.za/census01/html/lookuptables1.zip Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Place !! Code !! Area (km2)!! Population !! Most spoken language | ||||
| Cornelia | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42001 42001] | 1.95 | 1,502 | Sotho |
| Frankfort | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42002 42002] | 32.64 | 1,900 | Zulu |
| Mafahlaneng | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42003 42003] | 145.68 | 5,367 | Sotho |
| Namahadi | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42005 42005] | 4.28 | 19,413 | Sotho |
| Ntshwanatsatsi | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42006 42006] | 0.36 | 1,867 | Sotho |
| Qalabotjha | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42007 42007] | 1.95 | 17,244 | Sotho |
| Villiers | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42008 42008] | 24.27 | 984 | Zulu |
| Remainder of the municipality | [http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/42004 42004] | 4,371.52 | 9,363 | Sotho |
Politics
{{main|Mafube Local Municipality elections}}
The municipal council consists of seventeen members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Nine councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in nine wards, while the remaining eight are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the election of 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a reduced majority of ten seats on the council.
The following table shows the results of the election.{{Cite web |title=Election Result Table for LGE2021 — Mafube |url=https://wikitable.frith.dev/lge2021/FS205 |access-date=2021-11-20 |website=wikitable.frith.dev}}
{{Election results
|firstround=Ward |secondround=List
|party1=African National Congress |votes1=7315 |votes1_2=7590 |seats1=9 |seats1_2=1 |totseats1=10
|party2=Economic Freedom Fighters |votes2=1708 |votes2_2=2036 |seats2=0 |seats2_2=3 |totseats2=3
|party3=Freedom Front Plus |votes3=1216 |votes3_2=1242 |seats3=0 |seats3_2=2 |totseats3=2
|party4=Democratic Alliance |votes4=1026 |votes4_2=1195 |seats4=0 |seats4_2=2 |totseats4=2
|party5=Independent candidates |votes5=1446 |votes5_2= |seats5=0 |seats5_2= |totseats5=0
|party6=3 other parties |votes6=424 |votes6_2=960 |seats6=0 |seats6_2=0 |totseats6=0
|invalid=213 |invalid2=232
|electorate=29510 |electorate2=29510
}}
Mismanagement
In 2015 the municipal manager, Nkabi Hlubi, allegedly awarded tenders to the value of R21 million to Pit Dog Trading. The latter company allegedly manipulated its tender grading and provided Hlubi with kickbacks of R1 million each time a municipal payment was made. Hlubi appeared in the Bloemfontein magistrate's court in 2021 on charges of fraud and corruption.{{cite news |date=11 September 2021 |title=Man het munisipaliteit glo uit miljoene bedrieg |url=https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-nuus/man-het-munisipaliteit-glo-uit-miljoene-bedrieg/ |access-date=15 September 2021 |publisher=maroelamedia.co.za |language=af}}
As of January 2024, the municipality is under administration, one of 32 in the country, and three in the Free State where the provincial executive has intervened due to maladministration.{{cite web|first=Seth|last=Thorne|title=South Africa's 32 most 'dysfunctional' municipalities|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/trending/741577/south-africas-32-most-dysfunctional-municipalities/|access-date=13 January 2024|website=Businesstech}}
In September 2024, the Municipal Workers Retirement Fund took the municipality to court after the municipality had deducted close to R38 million from workers for pension fund contributions, but never paid this over to the pension fund.{{Cite web |last=Venter |first=Zelda |date=2024-09-12 |title=Who took the money? Free State municipality faces court battle over missing R38 million pension funds |url=https://iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/2024-09-12-who-took-the-money-free-state-municipality-faces-court-battle-over-missing-r38-million-pension-funds/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=IOL |language=en}} The court ordered the municipality to pay the outstanding pension fund money.{{Cite web |last=Mdakane |first=Bongani |date=2024-09-15 |title=Court orders Mafube to pay pension fund R37m it owes |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/news/court-orders-mafube-to-pay-pension-fund-r37m-it-owes/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Sunday World |language=en-ZA}} In January 2025 the Bloemfontein High Court found Mafube mayor Tlhoare Motsoeneng and the CFO personally responsible for the pension fund money that has been missing from the municipal workers. They were both ordered to pay more than R14.6 million within 60 days.{{Cite web |last=Venter |first=Zelda |title=Mafube Municipality and officials to pay R14.7m to pension fund |url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/mafube-municipality-and-officials-to-pay-r147m-to-pension-fund-4ddb86f3-3f02-4d81-a6b3-f606fd3c0cb5 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=iol.co.za |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Masungwini |first=Norman |title=Missing R500m Mafube municipality pension fund money is just the 'tip of iceberg', says union |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/missing-r500m-mafube-municipality-pension-fund-money-is-just-the-tip-of-iceberg-says-union-20250202 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=City Press |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Banda |first=Michelle |date=2025-01-30 |title=Free State’s Mafube Municipality owes workers’ pension fund R14m, racks up R113m in arrears |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-30-free-states-mafube-municipality-owes-workers-pension-fund-r14m/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}
In January 2025, the municipality was listed as one of the top ten municipalities in arrears on their pension contributions.
In March 2025, the court has ruled against the Free State municipalities including Mafube local government to end sewage crisis within its borders.{{Cite web |last=Venter |first=Zelda |title=Court orders Free State officials to end sewage pollution in landmark municipal accountability ruling |url=https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2025-03-26-court-orders-free-state-officials-to-end-sewage-pollution-in-landmark-municipal-accountability-ruling/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=iol.co.za}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- https://archive.today/20130621004819/http://www.mafube.gov.za/
{{Municipalities of the Free State}}
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Category:Local municipalities of the Fezile Dabi District Municipality