South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal rejected Ngwathe Local Municipality's attempt to overturn a dissolution order on Tuesday, 22 October. The ruling confirmed a June 2025 High Court decision, which required Free State provincial authorities to dismantle the council and install an administrator. Executive Mayor Victoria De Beer-Mthombeni said officials would review the judgment before announcing further actions.
Civil rights organization AfriForum initiated legal proceedings after residents complained about water contamination, sewage spills and financial collapse. The municipality owes Eskom, the power utility, more than 2 billion rand. Judge JP Daffue's 184-page June decision detailed liabilities exceeding assets by 1.6 billion rand and irregular spending surpassing 31 million rand.
The appellate court found no grounds for hearing an appeal and ordered the municipality to cover legal costs. AfriForum requested urgent enforcement of the original dissolution mandate but a judge scheduled comprehensive hearings for later in 2025. Provincial intervention follows constitutional provisions for municipalities experiencing severe financial distress or service delivery failures.
Civil rights organization AfriForum initiated legal proceedings after residents complained about water contamination, sewage spills and financial collapse. The municipality owes Eskom, the power utility, more than 2 billion rand. Judge JP Daffue's 184-page June decision detailed liabilities exceeding assets by 1.6 billion rand and irregular spending surpassing 31 million rand.
The appellate court found no grounds for hearing an appeal and ordered the municipality to cover legal costs. AfriForum requested urgent enforcement of the original dissolution mandate but a judge scheduled comprehensive hearings for later in 2025. Provincial intervention follows constitutional provisions for municipalities experiencing severe financial distress or service delivery failures.
