By Teboho Moloi
QwaQwa – The African Peoples Movement (APEMO) says the service delivery crisis in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) Municipality is not an accident — it’s “deliberate and coordinated” by politicians.
APEMO Eastern Free State convener Mohau Molwele made the explosive claim on Wednesday, 19 August, during a service delivery protest targeting government departments and the municipality in QwaQwa.
Molwele blamed the roots of MAP’s problems on former Free State Premier Ace Magashule, now president of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT).
“Former premier Ace Magashule and his administration contributed immensely to the demise of this municipality. During his tenure this municipality experienced the highest form of corruption and maladministration, which can also be confirmed by the Auditor-General” Molwele told supporters.
He said while APEMO is not letting the current administration off the hook, “the root cause emanates from while Magashule was still premier.”
Molwele accused those in power of deliberately failing to implement the Debt Acknowledgement Agreement signed between MAP and Eskom.
“There is a coordinated and concerted effort for politicians to benefit from this project and to cause unnecessary instability. That’s why residents are subjected to regular load shedding,” he said.
He added the same applies to the water crisis, despite MAP having major dams like Metsi-Matso and Fika-Patso.
“Residents of MAP are victims because of deliberate efforts by politicians,” Molwele said.
*Protest demands*
APEMO led residents in handing over memoranda of demands to municipal and provincial government offices, calling for urgent intervention to end what they called “political sabotage” of basic services.
MAP is currently under siege with R31m in attached assets, a looming auction, and has been declared dysfunctional by CoGTA.
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