Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Matjhabeng come from
Every fact on the Matjhabeng 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
As of 23 Aug 2026: On 22 August 2026 the ANC named Thanduxolo Khalipha among its mayoral candidates for Matjhabeng. This is for the 2026 local elections.
OFM. Published 23 August 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-3
As of 17 May 2026: Sunday World reported on Matjhabeng mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha. It said he faced pressure inside the ANC. The party's national and provincial leaders had told him to work with the province's intervention team. The pressure was over these instructions.
Sunday World. Published 17 May 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-2
As of 15 May 2026: Thanduxolo Khalipha is mayor of Matjhabeng. He went before the Free State Legislature (the province's parliament). The province had sent an intervention team to Matjhabeng. There, the team's leader gave its report.
OFM. Published 15 May 2026.
Where to look: photo caption and paragraphs 3-5
As of 1 Nov 2025: Thanduxolo D Khalipha was mayor of Matjhabeng Local Municipality in November 2025. The speaker (the councillor who chairs council meetings) was Bheke Stofile.
Free State COGTA. Page is undated.
Where to look: Matjhabeng (FS 184) row: Mayor/Executive Mayor 'Thanduxolo D Khalipha', Speaker 'Bheke Stofile'; header 'NOVEMBER 2025' (no day given)
As of 30 May 2025: The Free State government placed Matjhabeng under a Section 139(5) intervention after a High Court order. The council accepted the intervention at a meeting on 29 May 2025. A provincial task team was to carry out a financial recovery plan.
OFM. Published 30 May 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 2-4 and 7
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 72 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 3 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). African National Congress: 39 (28 ward, 11 party). Democratic Alliance: 16 (8 ward, 8 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 9 (0 ward, 9 party). African Democratic Change: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Independent South African National Civic Organisation: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Freedom Front Plus: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). African Transformation Movement: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Congress of the People: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 72 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Matjhabeng a qualified audit 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 Matjhabeng is ongoing. It began in October 2024, under section 139(5)(a) and (c) of the Constitution.
Department of Cooperative Governance. Published 3 July 2026.
Where to look: reply (a), table of municipalities under intervention, 'Matjhabeng LM' row: type of intervention, date instituted, status Ongoing
Doubt it can pay its bills
The Auditor-General found a going concern uncertainty at Matjhabeng in 2024-25, for the 16th 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', Free State, 'Matjhabeng LM' row; p. 49 explains the measure
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