VILJOENSKROON, Free State — The African Liberation Movement (ALM) is intensifying its campaign ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections, positioning itself as a decisive new voice for service delivery in the Free State. With a sharp focus on the ongoing challenges in Rammulotsi and Viljoenskroon, the emerging political party is demanding immediate action on water shortages, sanitation, and infrastructure failures.
Established in September of last year, the ALM has quickly built a presence across the Free State, North West, and Gauteng. Mojalefa Nkala, the ALM Free State Chairperson and candidate, emphasized that the party was formed out of frustration with existing political structures.
“There are many political parties who have promised people many things,” Nkala stated. “We have come from other political parties, and the reason we formed this organization is that we were forced to, because those leading before were failing to implement their plans. They were talking left and walking right.”
Nkala highlighted that local government is the sphere closest to communities, making it the critical key to addressing persistent service delivery challenges. This sentiment is strongly echoed by residents who report that poor sanitation, deteriorating roads, and intermittent electricity supplies have plagued the area for years.
One elderly resident highlighted the severe lack of basic amenities, noting, “We don’t have toilets. The ones that are there, we made them ourselves. When it comes to service delivery, they do come sometimes to collect waste. The problem is electricity, and sometimes we have to make a fire outside to cook because there is a power outage.”
Another resident stressed the urgent need for accountability, urging voters to elect capable leaders rather than perpetuating a cycle where “one administration has left a burden for another… in this 30 years.”
Thulani Snail, ALM Regional Secretary and Moqhaka candidate, reinforced the party’s commitment to remaining accountable to the communities they seek to represent. Outlining priorities that include sanitation, water, waste removal, and unemployment, Snail promised a thorough overhaul of local governance.
“We are going to clean the house. We are going to sweep all the dust that is in the office of the municipality,” Snail declared. “Our people can trust us because we believe that we are here for the people, and whatever we do is for their benefit, not for individuals. It is about time we change the reality.”
In response to the growing concerns, the Moqhaka Local Municipality acknowledged that while most areas in Viljoenskroon and Rammulotsi have access to water, some high-lying areas continue to experience significant challenges. Municipal spokesperson Dika Kheswa confirmed that water tankering is currently available in affected areas while the municipality works on projects aimed at improving water storage and supply.
“The municipality has embarked on a R34 million to R40 million project where we are increasing our storage capacity at the recovery dams, and that will definitely respond to the need for water in Rammulotsi and Viljoenskroon,” Kheswa explained.
He noted that water shortages directly impact sanitation, leading to ongoing issues with pit toilets and dry sanitation. “Once the water issue is resolved, we will be able to connect the boreholes to the pressure tower, which will definitely respond to the issue of pit toilets and dry sanitation.”
However, the municipality noted that the timeframe for the larger water infrastructure project cannot yet be confirmed due to ongoing delays. As the local government elections approach, the African Liberation Movement joins a growing field of political parties competing for voters who are increasingly demanding accountable leadership capable of turning campaign promises into tangible, improved services.
