By OBAKENG MAJE
9 February 2026- The African National Congress (ANC) in North West said it has directed its deployees in Provincial Government to swiftly invoke Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality. The party said the Section 139(1)(b) empowers the provincial government to assume executive powers of a municipality that is unable or fails to fulfil its constitutional and legislative mandate.
The ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo said the intervention is both political and administratively necessary, aimed to restore effective governance, ensure service delivery and safeguard the interests and dignity of the masses of our people in Matlosana. Diremelo said the intervention team will be expected to implement the findings of the investigation report as empowered by Section 106 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, and these findings will be implemented without any fear or favour.
“This revolutionary mandate follows an in-depth and heightened engagement between the ANC Caucus of Matlosana Local Municipality and the ANC North West Provincial Leadership, convened at the J.B Marks Municipal Chamber on 8 February 2026, this action remains part of a high-paced and smart approach implementation on fixing local government as resolved in the Extended Provincial Executive Committee Lekgotla which was held in Matlosana Local Municipality.
“As the governing movement based on the will of the people, the African National Congress remains unwavering in its commitment to ethical leadership, cooperative governance, and constitutional accountability across all spheres of government,” he said.
Diremelo further said the movement will continue to exercise political oversight and leadership to ensure that the objectives of this awaited intervention are people-centred, governance is restored and the municipality is returned to a path of sustainable service delivery and developmental approach.
The Guardian 