ANC councillors join residents in protest against Madibeng mayor amid service delivery crisis

Frustration boiled over in the Madibeng Local Municipality this week as community members, joined by their own ruling party councillors took to the streets demanding basic services and accountability.

The unusual protest saw several African National Congress councillors publicly criticising their own municipal leadership, accusing the mayor of favouritism, nepotism and sidelining wards that are not politically aligned with him.

For residents who have gone weeks without water, the protest was less about party politics and more about survival.

Municipal offices forced to close

The demonstration on Monday morning forced the municipality to shut down its offices in Brits, North West after crowds gathered outside the building.

What made the protest particularly striking was that some councillors themselves were among the demonstrators, standing shoulder to shoulder with residents from rural communities such as Maboloka, Madidi, and Jericho, North West.

Those communities have reportedly been without water for more than two weeks, leaving families to rely on water deliveries, boreholes or help from neighbours.

One councillor who joined the protest said the situation had become embarrassing.

“We were elected to bring services to our communities,” the councillor said anonymously. “But since 2021, some of us have not received a single project to show our voters.”

Allegations of political favouritism

The protesting councillors claim resources within the municipality are being distributed unevenly.

According to them, only councillors who support the mayor Douglas Maimane are able to secure projects and development initiatives for their wards.

They argue that this has left certain communities feeling neglected while others continue to benefit from municipal programmes.

The mayor has also been accused by critics of contributing to ongoing instability within the municipality.

While political tensions inside councils are not uncommon in South Africa, it is rare to see members of the same governing party publicly protest against their own leadership.

Investigations and governance concerns

Behind the protests lies a deeper governance dispute.

A legal investigation commissioned by the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in July 2025 reportedly examined allegations of nepotism and irregular appointments within the municipality.

But according to councillors, the findings have yet to be fully discussed by council.

They claim the mayor postponed a meeting where the MEC was expected to present the investigation’s results.

The report is said to implicate the mayor in unlawful appointments and nepotism within his office.

Meanwhile, the appointment of municipal manager Quiet Kgatla has also raised concerns. Provincial officials reportedly flagged the appointment as irregular, yet he remains in the role.

Councillors allege he continues to serve because he has the backing of the mayor.

Public protector probe adds pressure

The situation has drawn even more scrutiny because the mayor is also under investigation by the Public Protector South Africa over nepotism claims.

Councillors say the controversy extends to recent staffing decisions, including the permanent appointment of relatives linked to the mayor, despite the ongoing probe.

They also criticised a restructuring of municipal HR processes, which they believe could open the door to more politically influenced hiring.

“The changes look like they are designed to make it easier for favouritism in recruitment,” one councillor claimed.

Staff tensions inside the municipality

The internal turmoil appears to stretch beyond political leadership.

Some councillors allege that employees who refuse to cooperate with corrupt activities are being targeted and dismissed through legal processes.

According to them, the municipality has hired external law firms to discipline or remove workers who challenge questionable decisions.

At the same time, they claim cases involving employees found guilty of misconduct are not acted upon.

This lack of consequence management, critics argue, has further eroded trust inside the institution.

Service delivery frustrations growing

The protest in Madibeng reflects a wider trend across South Africa where communities increasingly take to the streets over municipal failures.

Water shortages, delayed infrastructure projects and governance disputes have sparked frequent protests in several provinces over the past decade.

In the North West province, where many municipalities face financial and administrative challenges, residents have become particularly vocal about service delivery.

On social media, some locals expressed support for the protesting councillors, praising them for standing up for their communities.

Others questioned why it took years of frustration before leaders inside the system spoke out.

What happens next?

The council is expected to meet to discuss potential action against the mayor once outstanding investigation reports are formally tabled.

For now, however, the immediate concern for many residents remains far simpler: access to basic services.

As one community member posted online during the protest: “We are not asking for luxury, just water in our taps.”

And until that happens, tensions in Madibeng may continue to rise.