Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Ditsobotla come from
Every fact on the Ditsobotla page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
On the council's website, no date shown: Councillor Molefe Morutse is named under Office of the Mayor on the municipality's website. Councillor Manana Bogatsu is named under Office of the Speaker.
Ditsobotla Local Municipality. Page is undated.
Where to look: Office of the Mayor page body; Office of the Speaker page (https://www.ditsobotla.gov.za/index.php/council/office-of-the-speaker); undated, read 2026-10-18
As of 7 May 2026: In May 2026, the national intervention in Ditsobotla was still under way. A National Cabinet Representative leads it.
SAnews. Published 7 May 2026.
Where to look: Paragraphs 3, 14-15 and 20
As of 9 Jan 2026: News24 reported in January 2026 that Molefe Morutse is mayor of Ditsobotla.
News24. Published 9 January 2026.
Where to look: photo caption and paragraph 2
As of 25 Sep 2025: At a meeting on 23 September 2025, the council elected its political office-bearers (the councillors in the top council jobs). This was under the national intervention. The statement does not name them.
SAnews. Published 25 September 2025.
Where to look: Paragraphs 1-2 and 5-7 (canonical URL as given on the page; fetched as https://www.sanews.gov.za/index.ph%70/node/77337)
As of 24 Sep 2025: Ditsobotla held a special council meeting on 23 September 2025. It elected ANC councillor Molefe Morutse as mayor again. It also elected Manana Bogatsu (EFF) as speaker again. This was under the national intervention. Before this, there were two rival mayors. There were also two rival speakers. The meeting ended that.
OFM. Published 24 September 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-6
As of 10 Sep 2025: Cabinet approved a national intervention in Ditsobotla. It was under Section 139(7) of the Constitution. The National Executive took over the intervention role of the provincial executive.
SAnews. Published 10 September 2025.
Where to look: Paragraphs 4, 9 and 16
As of 13 Mar 2025: In March 2025, Molefe Morutse (ANC) was elected mayor with the help of ANC and EFF councillors. At that time, Mazwi Moruri still held the mayoral chain. This left two mayors and two speakers (the councillors who chair council meetings) reporting for duty.
Cape Argus. Published 13 March 2025.
Where to look: Paragraphs 1-2 and 12
As of 15 Dec 2022: The MEC for local government closed down the council early. An MEC is a member of the provincial government. A new election in December 2022 then gave out the 39 seats. The ANC got 16 seats, the EFF 10 and the DA 6. Forum 4 Service Delivery got 2 and the Patriotic Alliance 2. FF Plus, Save Ditsobotla Movement and African Heart Congress got 1 each. A party needs 20 seats for a majority.
Daily Maverick. Published 15 December 2022.
Where to look: Ditsobotla section: 'The setting' paragraph (MEC dissolved the council) and the seat line 'ANC 16 (21) EFF 10 (6) ... Total: 39-20 seats are needed for a majority'
As of 15 Dec 2022: Ditsobotla held an election in December 2022. The ANC won 16 seats. The EFF won 10 and the DA won 6. Forum 4 Service Delivery won 2 and the Patriotic Alliance won 2. African Heart Congress, Save Ditsobotla Movement and FF Plus won one each. The municipality had closed down early on 14 September 2022.
News24. Published 15 December 2022.
Where to look: List after paragraph 7 ('The municipality recorded the following'); paragraph 11 (dissolved on 14 September)
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 39 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 2 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The 2021 seats, by party (ward seats and party seats). African National Congress: 21 (17 ward, 4 party). Democratic Alliance: 6 (3 ward, 3 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 6 (0 ward, 6 party). Forum 4 Service Delivery: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Freedom Front Plus: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). African Christian Democratic Party: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). African Independent Congress: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 2 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Ditsobotla a disclaimer of opinion for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
Government stepped in
In July 2026, the Minister of Cooperative Governance told Parliament that the intervention at Ditsobotla is ongoing. It began in August 2025, under section 139(5) of the Constitution. On 3 September 2025, Cabinet approved a national intervention under section 139(7).
Department of Cooperative Governance. Published 3 July 2026.
Where to look: reply (a), table of municipalities under intervention, 'Ditsobotla LM' row: type of intervention, date instituted, status Ongoing
In May 2025, Parliament's Budget Office described the recovery plan like this: "The municipality is not implementing the FRP"
Parliamentary Budget Office. Published 1 May 2025.
Where to look: p. 10, Table 1 'Active municipal interventions and their performance', 'Ditsobotla LM' row, FRP IMPLEMENTATION STATUS column
Doubt it can pay its bills
The Auditor-General found a going concern uncertainty at Ditsobotla in 2024-25, for the sixth year in a row.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: p. 50 (PDF page 54), 'Sixty-two municipalities with going concern uncertainty and consecutive years in this position', North West, 'Ditsobotla LM' row; p. 49 explains the measure
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