Khotsong-Bothaville in the Free State has been brought to a standstill as angry community members launched a shutdown to protest poor service delivery.

Roads were barricaded with stones and burning tyres, forcing schools and businesses to close.

The community is demanding the removal of the Nala Municipality mayor, municipal manager, and chief financial officer, accusing them of corruption and mismanagement.

Residents blame the leadership for failing to hold council meetings for the past nine months and for neglecting their needs.

Nala Municipality residents in Free State want mayor removed

Community members want the leadership in the municipality to step down and the council to be dissolved. They demand better services.

“Our water is filthy in Bothaville our councillors don’t take us seriously. We no longer want the mayor, municipal manager they must leave. They have misused funds and abused the community for the longest time. The councillors are also protecting the mayor – let them also go with him to Weselssbron,” says one angry resident.

Another resident adds, “Our services here are not up to standard. Now it’s raining and our houses are flooded. Our municipality is failing to provide adequate services.”

A community leader says they have tried to engage with the councillors but their attempts have not yielded positive results.

Community leader Thabiso Nteso says, “For the past 9 months, we have been protesting and knocking, looking for answers with regard to issues of service delivery. And the rampant corruption going on here in Nala. But seemingly to date, there’s never been a person coming to us with tangible solutions to say how our problems could be solved. Two weeks ago we engaged in the same action of shutting down an MEC’s Cogta and Police a transport came here. They engaged with all the stakeholders of the council and all those including councilors were in agreement that there are serious problems with regard to service delivery. And serious allegations of corruption in the municipality.”

Recently the MEC for Cooperative Governance Saki Mokoena visited the area in an attempt to resolve some of the challenges facing the community.