Schweizer-Reneke, North West — The Mamusa Local Municipality is teetering on the edge of collapse as a power struggle between rival municipal factions paralyzes governance and plunges service delivery into chaos.
At the heart of the dysfunction is a bitter dispute over the legitimacy of two acting municipal managers and two council speakers, each claiming authority in a municipality already mired in controversy. The leadership vacuum has not only brought operations to a halt but has also further eroded the public’s already dwindling trust in local government.
Key officials have been removed under murky and legally questionable circumstances, triggering court battles that have deepened the instability. Meanwhile, the North West provincial government, which has previously intervened in Mamusa’s affairs, appears unable to rein in the spiraling crisis.
“This is no longer just a leadership issue—it’s a total collapse of governance,” said a local activist. “Basic services have stopped, and residents feel completely abandoned.”
The dysfunction has had devastating consequences: trash collection is erratic, water supply is unreliable, and infrastructure continues to deteriorate. Financial mismanagement and irregular expenditure remain unresolved, with no coherent plan to steer the municipality back on course.
Many residents and analysts are now calling for drastic action. Among the options being seriously considered is the dissolution of the municipal council and the appointment of an external administrator—a constitutional mechanism reserved for the most dire municipal failures.
Community frustration is palpable. Protests have intensified in recent weeks, with residents demanding accountability, stability, and the restoration of essential services.
“The people of Mamusa deserve better than this political circus,” said one resident. “We need leaders who serve the community, not fight over power.”
As legal wrangling continues and service delivery crumbles, the future of Mamusa hangs in the balance—raising urgent questions about when, and how, order will finally be restored.
