Many people believe that MCA came about as a result of the 2013 anti-amalgamation riots, which is not necessarily true. The fact is that the idea of a civic movement came about in 2012 as an idea from AZAPO. A process of community consultations, support mobilization and awareness through then Karabo FM and engagement with local activists from the Black Consciousness Movement, PAC, ANC and community leaders was undertaken. While that process was ongoing, information to the fact that the ANC REC has made a decision to integrate Metsimaholo Local Municipality and Ngwathe Local Municipality was stumbled upon. Although earlier enquiries about the decision were met with denial (it ultimately became confirmed when there was a fall-out between the then ANC REC members and the PEC that it was true, and accusations begun to be thrown from one side to the other when factional lines became emboldened) 

Reasons identified for the formation of a civic association:

During the period from early 2000’s, after the Mayorship of ntate Ndaba (may his soul rest in peace), visibly unpalatable changes began to happen in the Metsimaholo municipality, viz-

• Infrastructure deterioration started. 
• Municipal equipment and vehicles began to break down and were not serviced.
• Employees at Metsimaholo municipality started to treat members of the community with disrespect.
• Many local people working for the municipality who were not supportive of the ‘new regime’ were dealt with, others were expelled; others were suspended; others were overlooked for promotions; ANC comrades from other towns in Fezile Dabi were brought in to bolster support to the powerful faction in the region to fill in vacant positions in the municipality. 
• Poor service delivery to the community was exacerbated by the demoralized municipal workers.
• The community started seeing outside contractors being given first priority to local business.
• Only local ANC members loyal to the ‘powerful’ faction were considered for small opportunities to gain their patronage and continued support.
• Community concerns were dismissed and petitions and memorandums by community structures were not responded to.
•  Municipal employees became divided along sectional lines.
• Levels of corruption and maladministration increased exponentially.
• The Auditor General’s findings became more adverse.
• Community participation structures like IDP; LED; EPWP; CWP; CDWs etc became ANC processes.
• During public meetings, the councillors, led by Mr Brutus Mahlaku, treated residents with disrespect and lied all the time – promises were not kept. Instead the Executive Mayor boisterously told people that ‘the ANC will rule until Jesus comes and those who are not happy should rather establish their own parties and topple the ANC or accept and rather join them if you can’t beat them’.
•   The attitudes of municipal officials towards the people became arrogant and levels of despondence, frustration and hopelessness within the residents became overwhelming.

The above mentioned are a few of the compelling reasons that became the driving force behind the need for the establishment of a non-political community driven civic association that will be the voice of the people of Metsimaholo.

THE JOURNEY

The eruption of the protest against amalgamation 2013, took place against the backdrop of the continuing process of consultation to establish the civic association. The heightened levels of impatience and anger that existed within the community became a fertile ground for one of the warring factions of the ANC to opportunistically push their agenda against the other, they mobilized the community by advancing the narrative about Ace Magashule being behind the idea of putting Metsimaholo under Ngwathe municipality. Those behind the narrative, because they were aware that the activists who supported the formation of the civic association knew the truth about the origins of the decision to amalgamate the two municipalities, rejected all approaches by us to use that platform/opportunity to mobilize for the launch of the civic association, probably afraid that they may be exposed in the process. Instead they approached respected and influential people within the community, and instilled in them, an anti-political activist attitude – THIS IS A STORY ANC ACTIVIST WORTH THEIR SALT OWES TO TELL TO THE COMMUNITY – IT WAS NEVER TOLD IN FULL.

 Despite all that the civic movement continued to support the people’s struggle against what we called ParACE factor- which in our view was a faction of the ANC that was responsible for collapse of the municipality and the promotion of corruption, patronage, maladministration and nepotism which was the cause of the suffering, poor service delivery and victimhood of our community.

Because of that, the leadership had to hold back the launch of the civic association to allow a cooling off period of the anti-activist sentiment while continuing to do ground work. Also because the leadership did not want to be blamed for wanting to steal the thunder from Metsimaholo Concerned Residents Committee(MCR), and to avoid any form of potential future controversy.

Even still, the then Steering Committee of MCA on its own engaged with the Demarcation Board about the issue of the amalgamation and submitted a 38 page motivation document against the action, but it was decided against going public about it, for the same reasons. 

In 2014 we deployed our representatives to support the municipal workers labour action because most of the issues the workers, represented by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) were raising resonated with our reasons to establish a civic association.

After the resolution of the Demarcation issue and the SAMWU strike, although not exactly satisfactorily, only then did work to build structures of the civic movement begun in earnest. The wind in our sails was pumped by the zeal and eagerness of our people, which itself was driven by desperation to want to see the back of the ruling ANC with its factions.

In February 2016, the Interim leadership of the civic movement began with the processes of community consultations to report on the progress made. Public meetings were held in Zamdela Hall, Multi-Purpose Centre in Harry Gwala, ha ntate Zakhwe, Kaho-Botjha Sec school, Amelia, Metsimaholo Community Hall in Orangeville, Refengkgotso Community Hall in Deneysville, where the local civic body under MCR, decided to dissolve their structure and join MCA as individuals, including smaller Ward meetings throughout the municipality to get the buy in and support for the organisation from members of the community.

THE CHALLENGES OF ADAPTATION 

The community was satisfied with the analysis and the reasons for the need to give their backing for the establishment of a civic association as presented by the leadership. The name of Metsimaholo Community Association (MCA) and its logo and the colours of the organisation was also adopted in those meetings. Most importantly, an overwhelming majority supported the proposal made in those meetings for the civic association to contest the then upcoming August 2016 Local Government Elections.

That decision posed a serious challenge as a civic association under normal circumstances does not have the necessary capacity and financial resources to contest elections, but the fact that civic associations are not tuned to govern, but to be advocacy organs and people’s mouthpiece against misrule posed the most difficult challenge, as MCA had to achieve a balance between been a radical change enforcing agent, and its role in governance where there are rules and regulations governing the conduct of sworn-in public representatives. Non the less MCA accepted the mandate of the residents of Metsimaholo, and contested the elections where despite the challenges of little time and lack of financial resources, we managed to acquire 2 PR seats in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality Council.

 By virtue of the MCA having to execute the mandate of contesting elections, it had to adapt to a new form of being in governance yet remaining firmly rooted in the ‘old’ organic civic organisation traditions. A fusion of the old(past) and the future, resulting in what we refer to as a ‘Modern Civic Association’. This new breed of civic organisations is the future of active citizenship, moreso because people are increasingly losing confidence in the party politik system, particularly at local level, because of their limitations in regards to broader community development outside the realm of politics, and their individual political careerist approach.

The achievement of contesting elections and winning two seats, at the first attempt, were to change the political history and trajectory of Metsimaholo and the Free State Province, because for the first time in history, the ANC could not acquire the majority they were used to, to govern the municipality. Metsimaholo Municipality also became the first in the province to be governed by a coalition.

From the coalition negotiations that ensued, which were characterised by pressure from the residents and people of all political persuasions, MCA had to decide which parties share the same vision and principles when it comes to municipal governance. It came out to be the EFF, which then proposed a model of governance that included the DA and Vryheids Vront.

That coalition did not last long because of what we perceived as immature conduct of some of the EFF leaders on the one hand and the bullying nature of both the DA and EFF on the other hand, that on top of the difference in priorities that existed between the coalition partners. That situation led to MCA pulling out of that coalition in 2017 and entering another coalition arrangement with the ANC/SACP Alliance. 

BETRAYAL AND SABOTAGE – LEADING TO 2017 SECTION 139(C) DECISION

The transition between the EFF/DA coalition to the ANC/SACP Alliance coalition did not go smooth. While the leadership of MCA was engaging with that of the ANC/SACP Alliance leadership to discuss the terms and conditions, our Mayoral deployee, out of his own accord, decided to disband the Mayoral Committee and to appoint ANC councillors given to him by what was rumoured to be the ParAce factor (from Ace himself) – which MCA was in principle, against. This was the first signs of cracks of disloyalty that planted seeds of distrust between members of MCA towards other members who were deployed to support and advice the Executive Mayor. It caused a lot of internal turmoil within the organisation, as others felt he was within his rights as he had the powers as the Executive Mayor and the others felt he was supposed to have gotten the mandate/instruction from the civic its deployee. 

Soon thereafter, the same Executive Mayor deployee was said to be holding secret meetings with the former Premier of the Free State and our perceived cause of suffering of our community and the mastermind of the collapse of our municipality Ace again. When questioned about that he denied it, but to our surprise, he developed a tendency to absent himself from Executive Committee meetings of MCA, sometimes when he is purported to be in Bloemfontein to meet with Ace, which again when questioned about those allegations he denied. Some members interpreted this as avoiding to account to the organisation – a sign that he was involved in some shady or underhand business.

To add to the confusion, MCA was numbed by a report that he was appointed to serve in one of SALGA Free State sub committees, after the fact. Already inside and outside the MCA there was a theory of the Executive Mayoral deployee being pocketed by Ace. 

What made it also difficult for MCA to decide was the fact that the cheer leader of the chorus was non other but his sworn adversary April Motaung of the EFF. With nothing tangible to work with, and his denial of all allegations against him and the support he got from the people deployed to advise him, MCA found itself between a rock and a hard place.  

This happened during the time the municipality was experiencing the most difficult of challenges, with the ruling coalition of MCA and ANC/SACP Alliance which was holding 22 of the 42 seats in the council, torn apart by the factions within the ANC/SACP Alliance not agreeing on anything and the opposition parties taking advantage of the situation to divide them more. The last straw being the failure of the ruling coalition to approve the 2017 Mid –Term budget, which posed a threat of putting the municipality under administration if not approved, and the failure to process the appointment of Section 56 (Director’s) positions.

As all the above was taking place, MCA on the other hand was struggling to have its member deployed as the Executive Mayor to consistently attend Exco meetings in order to keep the organisation and the community up to speed with developments, such that MCA sometimes had to write him letters to invite him to meetings to explain certain things. 

And whenever he was available, he would re-assure the organisation not to panic as there was no prospect of Metsimaholo municipality being put under administration, as he has an agreement with the premier and MEC of COGTA that because the problem is not a failure of governance, or lack of financial capacity, but rather failure of Council meetings to form a quorum in order to approve the budget, they will rather provide political support.

Whilst MCA was waiting for the decision on a date for the political support, that it was promised will kick-in if the Council meeting of 28th June 2017 does not quorate fails to take place or does not sit at all.

 To MCA’s surprise, on the 29th of June the organisation received a tip-off that it’s Mayoral deployee has written a letter to the MEC of COGTA to put the municipality under Section 139 (c) immediately. It surprised us because that was not what MCA was expecting. MCA was expecting Political intervention. Again MCA was not taken into confidence by its own deployee. On the 30th of June the municipality was served with a Section 139 (c) notice and the rest, as they, is history.

Looking back now, MCA feels that it was sabotaged from the inside by the people that we trusted. It is clear to MCA that nothing of what happened was a coincidence, it was a deliberate elaborate and methodical plan hatched by the ParACE factor to use their ‘agents’ to weaken MCA from inside by deliberately causing chaos with all the unexplainable things mentioned above, knowing very well that naturally, people do not stay long in chaotic situations or organisations, therefore MCA will be weakened by all this and they will likely lose confidence in it and not vote for it in the bi-elections that were to follow, and hoping that they will likely go back to voting for the ANC and returning it back to power in Metsimaholo, which unfortunately did not happen because of the people’s resolve. Instead the people gave their votes to other smaller parties. Forcing another coalition arrangement to govern Metsimaholo since 2018. Trusting a so-called ‘born and bred ntwana ya kasi’, who has experienced the brunt of poverty, pain and suffering to be the best gift MCA could have given to our people because it believed he would unapologetically bring about radical improvement to the lives of our people and turn the municipality into a vehicle and catalyst of change, came back to haunt the organisation.

 And this became a bitter lesson about trusting people because of their history and the nice things that they say – is dangerous.  But the damage has been done to MCA as an organisation, but mostly they succeeded in their war against the community of Metsimaholo in general by dividing the community further, and by sowing distrust among the people.   

OUR 2018 to 2021 POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

After the 2018 bi-elections, in which MCA could only afford to secure 1 seat in the Metsimaholo Council as a result of its tarnished image. It successfully negotiated to occupy the position of Council Whip for its strategic role of holding councillors responsible- little did we know that in Metsimaholo, that position had not been delegated its functions and powers – that information was withheld from us. 

What made us to stay with the ANC after the 2017 Bi-elections

MCA chose to continue working with the ANC – the troubled party, despite all the problems they continue to cause because the organisation had, and still hope that the ‘sensible and responsible faction’ within, that share the same vision with MCA, will ultimately prevail over the incorrigible looters. 

Our mandate from the community is very clear – To work with progressive and development orientated parties or individuals. MCA is not convinced that other parties in the council meet that criteria, nor have they displayed qualities of political maturity enough to even look at.

THE CHALLENGES OF THE COALITION ARRANGEMENT IN METSIMAHOLO

Admittedly, coalitions are not ideal for governance, they are very difficult to manage. Still MCA believed that with the same vision and intentions and political will, they can work just fine. The organisation was prepared to give it a try again, for the sake of the residents of Metsimaholo. We never expected it to be easy.

 Since MCA became part of the ‘new coalition’ that this time around includes MCA, ANC, SACP, Forum 4 Service Delivery and AIC, the organisation has been involved in protracted efforts to have that matter processed by the council. But our efforts have always been thwarted by the sitting Council Speaker, who ever since, claims that he is waiting for SALGA’s recommendations to be presented and approved the minister of COGTA. This position that MCA find itself in, holding a powerless position does not assist the organisation much in it’s quest to hold councillors accountable to the people. On top of that, MCA again find itself in a coalition that is dysfunctional because of ANC factions plus the anti-SACP sentiments within the local ANC members.

The spectacular factional battles of the ANC v/s ANC seemed to have taken another dimension with ANC v/s ANC v/s SACP since 2018, the polarization rendered the municipality ungovernable, some ANC members are hell-bent to spite the SACP to prove that it is useless and incapable to govern but also in order to shift the focus to petty misdemeanours while the municipality is being milked dry through tenders and fraudulent deals. The ANC has made sure that they do not attend meetings of the coalition (PMS) meetings. 

And their Party Whip in the MLM council, the instigator-in-chief, consistently gives ANC councillors instructions to disobey and undermine coalition caucus decisions. He himself undermines the Executive Mayor and her authority at every turn. He instructed ANC councillors who are MAYCO members not to convene potfolio committee meetings blunting the oversight role of council. Management and the administration staff in the municipality has been captured by one faction or the other and collude in corruptive activities and maladministration. 

The councillors simply failed to guide the municipality in terms of what must be achieved, when and how, they do not provide any oversight role as they are supposed to in accordance with the Municipal Systems Act, other acts and the Constitution of the Republic of SA, and there is nothing that MCA, holding a powerless position, can do to hold them accountable. 

MCA believes accountability is important in the face of such grievous and dangerous abuses of power and privilege but it is deliberately denied the powers to do so. There is no consequence management for delinquency in Metsimaholo.  

Even at community level, the municipality does not have any development programs of its own, it is just simply impossible with the lack of capacity it is forced to deal with, by people who are supposed to be representing the interests of the people being – the councillors of the ANC, at the forefront of this declared silent war against community development and service delivery. 

The ANC factions have blocked the appointment of Directors since 2017, and they don’t support the resolution of the long dragging case of the Municipal Manager, yet they are well aware of the instability caused by this. Working with them is just impossible, it keeps us guessing whether it is ignorance of their responsibility or blind loyalty to certain individuals that informs their actions.

OUR WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

Informed by the lived experience and demand of the daily struggles of our people, in all spheres of their lives, and their frequent requests for either representation, advise or one form of intervention or the other. MCA, in the true sense of a ‘Modern time Civic Association’, decided to establish a Community Service centre/Advice office that will be easily accessible to the community, where people can walk in and get help with any of the problems they come across on a daily basis and they don’t know where to get help.

True to our mandate we therefore provide the following services free of charge to our community:

• Free Legal Services

• Free Consumer rights services

1. 1. Free Labour Rights services

• Free Mediation and Conflict Resolution services

• Free Unpaid Benefits Application services

• Free intervention on poor or non-existent municipal services

• Free Community Development Programs planning and support services

The office is manned by:

• A manager who is also working as a Community Development Officer.
• An Office Administrator who also handles municipal related complains.
• 3 Para – Legals who deals with Consumer issues, Labour Matters and Legal Matters.

All of them are members of MCA working as volunteers

The office is open from Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 17h00.

NB-The Advice Office is registered separately and operating independently, with its own Board of Directors made up of upstanding members of the community.