Merafong Residents Mobilise for Shutdown Over Service Delivery Failures

Growing Frustration Sparks Action

Residents of the Merafong City Local Municipality are preparing for a mass shutdown on 24 October 2025, calling for immediate intervention in what they describe as years of failed service delivery, corruption, and governance breakdowns. The protest, organised by the Merafong Service Delivery Crisis Forum (MSDCF), aims to send a united message to national and provincial leaders that local communities can no longer tolerate administrative neglect.

The march, expected to draw participants from Carletonville, Fochville, Kokosi, Khutsong, Khutsong Extension 5, and Welverdiend, will begin at the Carletonville Municipal Offices, where demonstrators plan to deliver a memorandum of grievances to top government officials.

National Authorities on Notice

According to Buti Elliot Mtembu, a leading figure in the MSDCF, the memorandum will be directed to several high-ranking officials, including the National Police Commissioner, Auditor-General, Public Protector, Acting Head of the Hawks, and the Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation. The forum has also extended invitations to Hon. Velinkosi Hlabisa, Lt. General Fanie Masemola, and Advocate Shamila Batohi to receive the document in person.

Mtembu criticised what he described as the “arrogant and dismissive conduct” of Merafong City’s Executive Mayor, accusing the municipality of ignoring legitimate community concerns and responding with intimidation instead of solutions.

“The MSDCF calls on all residents of Merafong, regardless of political affiliation, to join this peaceful shutdown,” said Mtembu. “It is time to stand united for decent and accountable governance.”

A Call for Accountability and Reform

The MSDCF has long highlighted a series of municipal challenges, including failing water and sanitation infrastructure, irregular billing, unreliable refuse collection, and poor road maintenance. Residents claim that despite repeated petitions and meetings, the local government has failed to implement meaningful corrective measures.

The forum’s leadership stated that the protest is not politically driven but a community-led effort to demand transparency, accountability, and basic service provision. They also encouraged residents in Ward 10, Khutsong, to participate actively in the upcoming by-election to ensure that their voices are represented in council decisions.

Peaceful Protest with a Purpose

Organisers have assured authorities that the planned shutdown will remain peaceful and within the framework of the law. However, the scale of expected participation suggests significant disruptions to local services and transport in Carletonville and surrounding areas.

Participants are being urged to bring placards highlighting key issues such as water shortages, poor waste management, and the demand for clean governance. Religious institutions, schools, and local businesses have also been encouraged to support the movement by closing for part of the day in solidarity.

Standing Together for Change

The MSDCF described the march as “a clarion call to stand together against persistent service delivery failures and corruption that have long plagued the community.” By uniting under one voice, residents hope to trigger concrete interventions from national oversight bodies and ensure that promises of reform translate into visible improvements.

As the 24th of October approaches, all eyes will be on Merafong City, a municipality whose residents have chosen to transform frustration into civic action, signaling that accountability begins at the grassroots.

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