Dihlabeng Local Municipality

04/06/2026

Day 2: Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy Public Participation Engagement

The SMME Section convened public participation meetings at the Mashaeng Community Hall and the Kgubetswana Community Hall to engage entrepreneurs on key aspects of the draft Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy.

Local Economic Development (LED) strategies empower municipalities to drive sustainable economic growth, reduce poverty, and create employment opportunities by leveraging local resources and fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors.

The Manager responsible for SMME, Ms Lengoabala, delivered a presentation on the draft LED Strategy, emphasizing the importance of aligning the strategy with national and provincial development priorities.

A question-and-answer session was held, providing attendees with an opportunity to seek clarity and share views on the draft LED Strategy and other related economic development matters. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to submit their inputs and comments on the draft LED Strategy via email to [email protected].

Ms Lengoabala further urged attendees to facilitate the establishment of an LED Forum. She emphasized that nominees should represent all relevant business sectors to ensure broad participation and collaboration. Nominations must be submitted to [email protected] within 14 working days.

The engagement forms part of the municipality's commitment to promoting inclusive economic development and ensuring meaningful stakeholder participation in the planning process.

04/06/2026

Meeting Summary: Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy Engagement

A stakeholder meeting was convened at the Mautse community Hall and the Fateng-Tse-Ntsho Community Hall to discuss key aspects of the Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy. The primary purpose of the meeting was to present the draft LED Strategy and provide stakeholders with an overview of its objectives and proposed interventions.

The meeting emphasized the importance of the LED Strategy as a tool for promoting sustainable economic growth, improving livelihoods, and creating opportunities within the study area. Participants were encouraged to contribute towards the collection and consolidation of relevant economic information to ensure that the strategy is informed by accurate and comprehensive data.

Discussions also focused on investigating coordination and integration options that could enhance collaboration among stakeholders and unlock opportunities to broaden the economic base of the study area. Particular attention was given to identifying initiatives that can diversify economic activities, attract investment, and strengthen local economic resilience.

Furthermore, stakeholders agreed on the need to strengthen working relationships through the establishment of a Local Economic Development Forum. The proposed forum will serve as a platform for ongoing engagement, information sharing, coordination of development initiatives, and collective decision-making in support of local economic growth.

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

Foot-and-Mouth disease Vaccination.

02/06/2026

Continuation of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccination Campaign.

Today, the Dihlabeng Local Municipality Agriculture Section, in partnership with the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD): Animal Health Services, visited Saulspoort Farm to continue the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination campaign.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and severe viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. While it does not infect humans and poses no food safety risk, it remains a significant agricultural emergency that can severely impact livestock productivity and the livelihoods of farmers.

Farmers are reminded that the FMD vaccine is provided free of charge and is not for sale. Livestock owners are encouraged to present their animals for vaccination, keep their livestock records up to date, and comply with all movement control measures.

These efforts are essential in helping to contain the spread of the disease, protect livestock, and safeguard the agricultural sector within the district.

Dihlabeng Local Municipality remains committed to supporting animal health initiatives and working closely with stakeholders to ensure the well-being of livestock and the sustainability of local farming communities.

28/05/2026

The Executive Mayor, Cllr Tseki Tseki, is currently tabling the 2026/2027 Budget Speech before Council in Vogelfontein, Bethlehem. The speech outlines the municipality’s strategic priorities, development plans, and service delivery commitments for the upcoming financial year.

28/05/2026

The Executive Mayor, Cllr Tseki Tseki stated in his address that the recently released Auditor-General’s report provides a clear, honest, and factual assessment of the municipality’s position for the first time in many years. For this cycle, we received an Unqualified Audit Opinion, confirming that our financial accountability meets the standards set out in the MFMA and other regulatory frameworks.

National Treasury expects municipalities to achieve 95% debt collection for service delivery, drawn from rates, refuse removal, water, and electricity charges. However, with unemployment exceeding the rate of employed households in our communities, even full implementation of the indigent policy will not bring us close to this threshold. This is a challenge we cannot resolve in isolation. It requires coordinated action across all spheres of government, particularly on national priority projects in water, roads, and electricity.

Following robust council debate, the Executive Mayor responded to input from councillors. Council subsequently adopted the funded 2026/2027 IDP and Budget.