Anger boiled over in Ward 9 on Thursday when Mayor Sifiso Mkhwanazi faced a hall full of furious residents demanding answers to failing services, inflated bills, and what many now call a rigged electricity system. The explosive meeting, hosted by Ward 9 Councillor Magda Viktor, ended with calls for the mayor to resign after he failed to give firm answers on broken infrastructure, skyrocketing bills and the Mondlo protests.

Residents listed grievances that stretched from dangerous, pothole-ridden roads to a broken transformer that has been left unattended for almost six years. The loudest outcry, however, came over the sharp hikes and unexplained extra charges on municipal accounts. Many said their bills had doubled in recent months, without any clear explanation.

“You are stealing from us and then threatening us with disconnection,” one resident said.

The tension in Ward 9 reflects a wider crisis across AbaQulusi. In Mondlo, Hlobane, Vaalbank and Cliffdale, residents have staged protests against load-reduction and high electricity bills. According to information circulated on social media, Vryheid supposedly has the highest number of outstanding accounts. Despite this, Vryheid has not faced load-reduction, while Mondlo and the other areas are repeatedly targeted.
When confronted, Mayor Mkhwanazi openly admitted that the figures did not add up and said he believed some of the data may be false. He also conceded that Vryheid remains the single largest paying area for electricity in AbaQulusi. This specific issue, that is claimed to be ‘fake news’, has raised tension among the Mondlo and Vryheid communities.

“These numbers must be investigated. I do not believe they are accurate and we will look into them,” the mayor told residents. But his words fell flat in a room where many accused the municipality of being biased and manipulative.

The absence of the municipal manager and other senior officials only deepened the anger. Many residents felt insulted that key decision-makers were not present to face their concerns. “You bring half a team to face us, while the ones who sign off on decisions are hiding. That shows the contempt you have for us,” one resident said to loud applause. “We have a municipal manager who reports to you, who are the mayor, yet you can’t respond to common questions. It means you are not doing your job,” another angry resident said.

The meeting reached boiling point when calls for the mayor’s resignation rang out. “You are not fit to do this job. Step down,” one man said, sparking applause from others in support.

Mkhwanazi attempted to restore order by asking for 10 days to investigate the complaints and to reconvene with the directors responsible for electricity, roads and billing. But his plea for time was met with skepticism. “We have heard promises before. Nothing changes,” one woman said outside the venue.

The confrontation in Ward 9 underscores a municipality at breaking point. With protests in Mondlo, widespread dissatisfaction over billing, and visible collapse in basic services, trust in AbaQulusi’s leadership is wearing thin. For many residents, Thursday’s meeting was not only about potholes and broken transformers; it was about demanding accountability from leaders they say have failed them.

Whether the mayor’s promise to return in 10 days will bring real answers or ignite even greater outrage is now the question hanging over AbaQulusi.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.