“A Town Taken Over by Gangsters”: Ditsobotla’s Collapse Sparks Court Action Against Ramaphosa

The once-thriving agricultural town of Ditsobotla in South Africa’s North West province has become a national symbol of state failure—and now, a legal battleground.

Non-profit organisation Sakeliga has approached the courts in an urgent bid to force President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet to intervene directly in the collapse of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality.

Home to over 200,000 residents across Lichtenburg, Coligny, and Ga-Raphalane, Ditsobotla is a crucial farming and manufacturing hub. But today, it is marked by broken infrastructure, rampant corruption, and a breakdown in basic services.

Ramaphosa’s 2022 Visit: “A Town Taken Over by Gangsters”

In November 2022, President Ramaphosa visited Ditsobotla and described it bluntly: “a town taken over by gangsterism.” He pointed to the looting of municipal funds, failed refuse collection, electricity blackouts, and water shortages as signs of criminal capture.

Despite promises of change after by-elections that year, Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux says there has been little to no improvement. “The town is in a state of collapse, held together only by communities and businesspeople,” he said.

Sakeliga Heads to Court: Demands National Takeover

Frustrated by government inaction, Sakeliga has now filed a court application demanding that President Ramaphosa and his ministers be compelled to take over the running of the municipality under section 139(7) of the Constitution.

The organisation says the North West provincial government has failed to implement meaningful recovery, despite a court order in 2023 mandating intervention.

In their latest filing, Sakeliga accuses the national executive of acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally by not stepping in sooner. They want the court to:

• Order the national cabinet to implement the financial recovery plan.

• Restore water and electricity supply within 10 days.

• Submit sworn monthly progress reports.

• Allow further legal relief if the national executive fails again.

Sakeliga warns that failure to act could lead to a “serious constitutional crisis” with broader implications for national stability.

Treasury and COGTA Say “Not Yet”

The Department of National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) have resisted calls for national intervention.

In February 2025, Treasury said the situation didn’t yet meet the threshold for national takeover, citing an already approved Financial Recovery Plan and the appointment of a Provincial Executive Representative (PER). They argue more time is needed to see results.

Business Impact and Violent Leadership Clashes

Business confidence in Ditsobotla has plummeted. In 2021, dairy giant Clover shut down its cheese factory in Lichtenburg, blaming “ongoing poor service delivery.”

The situation worsened in recent months with violent clashes in the municipal council. A court-ordered reinstatement of municipal manager Olaotse Bojosinyane led to gunfire at council offices. Two employees were shot, and rival political factions now hold parallel council meetings, each claiming legitimacy.

Even the ANC in the province has acknowledged the crisis. Spokesperson Tumelo Maruping said if things don’t improve by 2026, the municipality could be dissolved and merged with others nearby.

Why This Matters

Ditsobotla is more than a local issue—it’s a warning sign. Sakeliga argues that the failure of small municipalities like Ditsobotla has ripple effects, driving migration to strained urban areas and worsening South Africa’s infrastructure crisis.

They hope the court will force the national government to act—and, if not, pave the way for private and community-led interventions where the state has failed.

As of now, the future of Ditsobotla—and its people—remains in legal limbo.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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