SASOLBURG – Metsimaholo Local Municipality emerged as one of the shining stars at the prestigious National Municipal Excellence Awards held at Sun City on October 2.

The municipality was honoured as the Best Performing Municipality in the Free State Province, a recognition that celebrates its unwavering commitment to service delivery, accountability, and putting residents at the heart of development.

The glittering awards ceremony brought together municipalities from across South Africa to acknowledge excellence in governance, innovation, and community service.

When the announcement for the Free State’s top municipality was made, loud cheers erupted as Metsimaholo’s name was called, a moment of pride not only for the leadership but also for the residents whose collective effort made the achievement possible.

Executive mayor Jack Malindi received the award on behalf of the municipality and its residents.

Holding the award high, he expressed heartfelt gratitude and reaffirmed Metsimaholo’s mission to serve its people with excellence and integrity.

“This award belongs to the people of Metsimaholo,” said Mayor Malindi. “It is a reflection of our shared commitment to progress, teamwork, and responsive governance. We dedicate this achievement to our residents, the true heartbeat of our municipality. As Metsimaholo, we put our residents at the centre of everything we do, and we will continue to deliver quality services that improve their daily lives.”

The mayor extended special appreciation to municipal manager Basi Motloung, the councillors, municipal officials, and the entire Metsimaholo community for their united efforts in achieving this milestone. He emphasised that the recognition serves not as a destination, but as motivation to push even harder towards excellence in governance and service delivery.