By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – Maluti-a-Phofung Executive Mayor Tumelo Thebe has issued a stern warning to residents against the illegal occupation of land, saying the practice undermines township development plans, disrupts infrastructure projects, and places lives at risk.
Thebe urged residents seeking residential sites to follow lawful channels and approach municipal officials for information on available land instead of falling prey to fraudsters and opportunists who illegally sell land they do not own.
Speaking during his recent State of the Municipality Address, Thebe said the municipality has approved township establishment plans and is working with the Free State Department of Human Settlements to secure funding for the installation of critical infrastructure, including water, sewerage and road networks.
He acknowledged the growing demand for housing across Maluti-a-Phofung, driven by years of housing backlogs, but stressed that illegal land invasions only worsen the municipality’s challenges.
“Illegal occupation of land disrupts municipal spatial planning and infrastructure development. It also puts people’s lives in danger because they build homes without knowing what infrastructure may exist beneath the ground,” said Thebe.
“Our people must seek correct information from their ward councillors and municipal officials. They must not allow themselves to be misled by fake kings and scammers who go around claiming ownership of land and selling it illegally.”
The mayor revealed that the municipality is awaiting approval for the installation of services in several approved township developments that could unlock thousands of residential sites for local communities.
These include 350 sites at Tshiame and Bluegumbosch Extension 30, 1,121 sites at Tlholong Kestell Extension 5, 1,500 sites at Linda Mkhonto and Silahliwe in Intabazwe, 1,021 sites at Tshiame A, and 994 sites at Tshiame B.
Thebe also announced that land has been set aside in Intabazwe Extension 2 for the construction of a new clinic to improve healthcare access for residents.
In another significant development, he said Maluti-a-Phofung is among only five municipalities approved for the Housing Accreditation Programme, a move expected to give the municipality greater authority to implement housing projects directly.
He further confirmed that the long-awaited conversion of the Intabazwe Hostel into Community Residential Units has received official approval.
The mayor blamed years of political instability and infighting for the municipality’s poor service delivery record, which has seen Maluti-a-Phofung ranked among South Africa’s most dysfunctional municipalities by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
“The minister is correct. I have said before that we spend too much time looking at each other instead of focusing on the serious issues affecting our communities,” he said.
“Our people continue to complain about poor service delivery, and that becomes the scorecard by which this municipality is judged. We need to focus on delivering services and improving the lives of our residents.”
The remarks come as the municipality seeks to rebuild public confidence, accelerate housing delivery and address longstanding infrastructure challenges that have fuelled frustration among residents.
