Ditsobotla Municipality
By Lerato Mpembe
In a key step to steady the ship, the troubled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in North West has brought back Molefe Morutse as mayor. The re-election happened on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, during a special council meeting. This follows a visit from the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), which gave a 14-day deadline to pick new leaders and fix deep-rooted problems. Morutse, from the African National Congress (ANC), now leads again, with hopes high for better services and less chaos in the area.
The move comes after months of mess, including money woes and fights over who runs things. North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi called it a win, saying it sorts out old issues and follows orders from higher up. For folks in Lichtenburg and nearby spots, this could mean real change after years of bad roads, water cuts, and power glitches. As South Africa marks Heritage Day, the story highlights how local leaders must honour the past by fixing the present for all communities.
National Push to End the Turmoil
CoGTA stepped in earlier this month after spotting big failures in how the municipality runs. They found money not spent right, services in shambles, and admin breakdowns. The team told the council to vote in a new mayor and speaker within two weeks to get things back on track.
This is not the first time help has come from above. Ditsobotla has been put under national watch nine times now, under Section 139 of the Constitution, which lets higher government take over when locals fail. Morutse himself welcomed the latest help, saying it was long overdue and could sort out the woes for good.
The special meeting on Tuesday went smooth from 10am, with Morutse getting the nod as mayor. Manana Bogatsu from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) came back as speaker. Two more office bearers got picked to round out the team. Mokgosi was there and shared: “We had a very successful meeting since 10am, the speaker has been re-elected. Manana Bogatsu who was the speaker in the previous council, she comes from the Economic Freedom Fighters, the Mayor Molefe Morutse who comes from the African National Congress has also been re-elected and two office bearers have been confirmed as the newly constituted office bearers of the municipality. Therefore we have regularized what also was an issue and we were given an instruction that in 14 days it must happen.”
A History of Chaos and Dual Power Struggles
Ditsobotla has been in hot water for ages, with fights between groups leading to violence and two mayors claiming the top spot at times. Back in March 2025, Morutse got elected with ANC and EFF backing, but old mayor Mazwi Moruri held on, saying the vote was not legit. This sparked clashes between supporters, turning the town into a mess.
The ANC kicked out Moruri and nine others in July 2025 for not following party orders to back Morutse. They faced charges like causing splits and ignoring calls to elect Morutse. The party backed the move, saying it cleans up and brings stability.
Money troubles run deep, with audits showing waste and poor spending. Services like water and lights often fail, leaving people angry. The ninth intervention aims to fix this, with plans for better checks and help from experts.
Premier’s Backing and Hopes for Better Days
Mokgosi cheered the re-election as a fresh start. He sees it as key to following CoGTA’s rules and turning things around. With Morutse at the helm, the focus is on getting basics right and building trust.
The ANC and EFF team-up shows parties can work together for the greater good, even after past rows. For the community, it’s about seeing real fixes, like steady water, fixed roads, and clean books.
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