Heilbron and the surrounding affected farming areas are set to become part of the Metsimaholo Local Municipality after the November 4 Local Government Elections, marking not only major changes for Ngwathe, but also a significant change in the local government landscape of the Fezile Dabi District in the Free State.

The transition follows the re-determination of municipal outer boundaries, and will see the area currently administered under the Ngwathe Local Municipality incorporated into Metsimaholo, which includes Sasolburg, Deneysville, Oranjeville, Viljoensdrift and surrounding farming areas.

Here’s the facts of how Ngwathe will be affected

• Council: members Ngwathe had 37 Council Members in the Municipal Council which was dissolved just more than three months ago following the High Court judgement for Provincial intervension and the dissolving of the municipal council. After the 2026 Local Governement Elections Ngwathe will have only 27 Council Members.

• Wards: With Heilbron becoming part of Metsimaholo, Ngwathe looses five wards to Metsimaholo, resulting in the change of some Ward numbers that voters should have noticed.

• Mayor: In terms of section 12 Notice of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 issued by Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Provincial Gazette No. 56 issued on Friday, October 16, the municipal council will now have a Mayor instead of an Executive Mayor.  

• Collective executive system combined with ward participatory system:   After the local government elections, the municipality will be a collective executive system combined with a ward participatory system as contemplated in section 9(b) Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, No. 117 of 1998.

• Municipal revenue: The municipal revenue is going to be negatively affected by the moving of Heilbron to Metsimaholo LM since Heilbron is the second economic contributor in the broader economic revenue of the municipality.