Council collapse deepens crisis, stalls budget in Maluti-a-Phofung

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – A political standoff has plunged the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality deeper into crisis after a council sitting collapsed for lack of quorum, placing the municipality’s legally required budget process — and critical service delivery plans — in jeopardy.

Council Speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini confirmed that only 34 councillors were present, two short of the required 36 needed to proceed. Despite a 20-minute delay and a further 15-minute extension, the numbers failed to improve, forcing the abrupt closure of the sitting.

“The quorum of council is 36. After 35 minutes of waiting, I had to take a decision not to proceed. The meeting remains closed,” said Dlamini.

The failed sitting comes at a pivotal moment, with municipalities compelled under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) to table draft budgets and initiate public participation processes ahead of the new financial year.

The deadlock now raises serious concerns over compliance with statutory deadlines and the municipality’s ability to plan and deliver essential services.

Dlamini warned that continued political infighting poses a “serious threat” to governance and administrative stability, particularly as the draft budget has yet to reach the public consultation stage.

“I will give political parties the whole of next week to resolve their differences. If there is no resolution, I will have no option but to call another council sitting,” he said, urging councillors to “swallow their pride” and act in the interests of residents.

The collapse has exposed deepening divisions within council.

EFF Chief Whip Chicco Mkwanazi accused coalition parties of orchestrating a deliberate boycott, insisting that a previous sitting on 26 March had already concluded key matters. He further charged that the ANC was acting unilaterally despite lacking majority control.

“They must not behave as if they still have the numbers. They don’t. They must come to the table so we can find a way forward,” said Mkwanazi.

Meanwhile, MAP16 convenor Paratlane Motloung maintained that the 26 March sitting lawfully removed Executive Mayor Malekula Melato through a motion of no confidence and installed him as the new mayor — a claim that lies at the heart of the ongoing dispute.

“For us to attend today’s meeting would have been a contradiction. I was voted in as mayor. The concern now is that the community will suffer if political parties do not engage,” said Motloung.

He warned that continued paralysis could trigger intervention under Section 139 of the Constitution of South Africa, which allows provincial government to step in when a municipality fails to fulfil its executive obligations.

The impasse underscores a deepening governance crisis in Maluti-a-Phofung, where rival claims to authority and repeated council disruptions are crippling decision-making processes.

For residents, the stakes are rising fast. Any delay in budget approval threatens to stall service delivery programmes, infrastructure rollout and basic municipal operations.

With negotiations among political parties set for the coming week, the municipality now stands at a critical crossroads: restore order and functionality — or risk full-scale provincial intervention.