Ishmael Modiba , SABC Senior Journalist

The #MangaungShutdown protests have seen scores of people blockade roads around the city in protest. The protest is organised under the banner of the ‘Mangaung Community Concern’ , residents are apparently calling for the Metro Council to be disbanded and Tankiso Mea, the city manager, to be removed from office. Meanwhile, Free State police have arrested a 57-year-old security guard for allegedly shooting a teenager dead at a warehouse in Bloemfontein.Guest: Ishmael Modiba , SABC Senior Journalist Contacts: 082 430 0196 Phoner: What is the state of your municipality? With The local government elections coming up on the 27th of October 2021, will you be exercising your right as a citizen by voting? What do you think are the solutions to change the poor state of our municipalities? According to Statistics SA, South Africa has 257 municipalities and in 2019/2020 they collectively spent R105.9-billion. Yet, according to the Auditor-General’s report for the same period, irregular expenditure, fraud and corruption amounted to R32-billion. This amount could also be higher since the full amounts were not disclosed.Also out of the 257 municipalities in the country, only 20 were awarded clean audits.The state of most municipalities is appalling, there is crisis , the impending collapse of local government