Mayor Tlhoare Motsoeneng Thanks Fezile Dabi District Municipality for Ensuring Completion of Mafube MIG Projects
Mayor Tlhoare Motsoeneng Thanks Fezile Dabi District Municipality for Ensuring Completion of Mafube MIG Projects. The long-awaited handover of completed Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) projects in the Mafube Local Municipality was celebrated on Friday, 29 August 2025, when the Fezile Dabi District Municipality, supported by the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), delivered critical infrastructure upgrades to communities in Frankfort, Villiers and Tweeling.
The event, attended by district, local and provincial leaders, showcased completed water, sanitation and sports facilities that will benefit thousands of residents. Mayor Motsoeneng expressed gratitude to Fezile Dabi District Municipality for stepping in to assist Mafube, which has faced service delivery and capacity challenges.
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Mayor Motsoeneng: “It’s About Services, Not Politics”
Speaking at the handover, Mayor Tlhoare Motsoeneng emphasised that the day marked a turning point for Mafube residents.
“Now as Mafube Local Municipality we are very glad for this day. We are very happy that at long last this day came. Last year, the past financial year, we regazetted our MIG to Fezile Dabi District Municipality because we were having certain challenges in our municipality whereby we could not implement the projects thoroughly. So we opted to do the regazetting to Fezile Dabi District Municipality and they have managed to implement our projects,” he said.
He confirmed that while some minor issues remain to be finalised, Mafube has again opted to channel some of its grants through the district in the current financial year to ensure delivery continues.
“It’s not about politics. It’s about working hand in hand, showing that our government is at work to assist each other to render the services to the communities. Where one cannot deliver the services, the other sister department or the district municipality will have to come in handy to assist so that these services can reach our communities,” Mayor Motsoeneng added.
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Projects Delivered: Water, Sanitation and Sports Facilities
The projects handed over included:
• Nine boreholes in Tweeling, providing residents with access to clean and reliable drinking water.
• Refurbished pump stations in Villiers and Tweeling to address chronic water challenges.
• Zomba Sports Ground in Frankfort’s Namahadi township, now upgraded and fenced to provide safe recreational space for young people.
• A sewer pipe bridge to improve sanitation and environmental health.
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena, underscored that the handover was about more than infrastructure.
“Today’s handovers are not just about infrastructure, but about giving our people the basic services they rightfully deserve. Clean water, proper sanitation, and recreational facilities are the foundations of a healthy and thriving community. These projects reaffirm our government’s commitment to accelerate service delivery and to ensure that no community is left behind. We want our people to see, feel and touch the services,” he said.
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District Manager Clears Misconceptions
Fezile Dabi Municipal Manager, Sipho Thomas, firmly rejected allegations that borehole projects were misused or diverted for private gain.
“To answer this thing fully: there have been accusations or information going around to say that the R6.4 million boreholes were drilled and equipped on private property. Let’s put it very clear and open – we invited media houses here so that all can verify that the boreholes are drilled and equipped here in the communities, not anywhere else. Those issues are unfounded, and that information is very malicious,” he said.
Thomas also stressed that the projects were now assets of the Mafube Local Municipality, proving that intergovernmental cooperation can deliver results for communities.
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District Leadership: “A Lifetime Investment for Mafube”
District Executive Mayor Dennis Khasudi highlighted the importance of community ownership in sustaining the infrastructure.
“One of the biggest projects that has been making news is this one of the nine boreholes that were drilled in Tweeling. The community will now be able to have drinkable water. We also handed over the fenced sports ground in Namahadi. We appeal to the community to take care and responsibility of this infrastructure. Normally, when communities are angry, the first thing they want to destroy is infrastructure. This is a lifetime project that will benefit Mafube and its people,” he said.
MMC for Infrastructure, Nick Müller, representing the Democratic Alliance in the district council, noted the challenge of completing projects under tight timelines after they were regazetted.
“Under the time constraints we did very well and have learned a lot. We look forward to future projects,” Müller said.
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Provincial Government: Accountability and Future Planning
MEC Saki Mokoena also linked the projects to the provincial medium-term development plan, which focuses on inclusive growth, job creation, and stronger municipal governance.
He emphasised that Mafube, long under Section 139(5)(c) intervention, is strategically important as part of the Vaal River City region and as a Free State agricultural hub.
“We need to build municipalities that are professional, accountable, and that can live up to the standards our people require. The only credibility we have is when people can see, feel and touch the services we provide,” Mokoena said.
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Media Invited, Critics Absent
Municipal leaders noted that all media houses, including those that had previously reported negatively on Mafube’s projects, were invited to the handover to verify the work on the ground. However, many did not attend, missing an opportunity to confirm the visible progress made.
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