The National Service Delivery Forum (NSDF) says it will intensify protests in Mangaung until government authorities respond to demands over service delivery, jobs, infrastructure and local economic concerns.
The organisation, which led the Mangaung shutdown protest, spoke out after at least 142 people were arrested following unrest and the looting of foreign-owned shops in Bloemfontein. Municipal authorities have condemned the violence and warned residents against vigilantism.
Forum chairperson Potso Motoko said the movement had exhausted several formal channels before resorting to the shutdown action.
According to Motoko, the organisation had repeatedly submitted memorandums, petitions and communications to the Mangaung Metro, the Free State provincial government and the provincial legislature, but claimed officials failed to provide meaningful responses.
He described the shutdown as a “last resort” after what he called years of failed engagement over poor service delivery, corruption, deteriorating roads, unemployment and disputes involving the taxi industry.
Motoko said protesters had intended to march to the Mangaung Metro headquarters and the office of the Free State premier to demand direct engagement from authorities.
“We wanted answers to the memorandums and engagements that we tried so far,” he said, adding that the group believed government leaders were not acting in the interests of local communities.
The forum also accused government officials of being unresponsive during the latest shutdown campaign, warning that demonstrations would continue throughout the week unless authorities produced what the group considered a reasonable and tangible response.
Addressing the violence and looting that accompanied the protests, Motoko blamed “criminal elements” for hijacking the demonstration.
He said some incidents had already begun overnight before the planned protest activities started and insisted the organisation did not support illegal acts or attacks on businesses.
Motoko said the forum had urged police to intensify investigations and arrest those responsible for looting and violence.
While distancing the organisation from the unrest, he also argued that government failures and delayed responses contributed to growing frustrations within communities.
The forum said it had attempted to restore order by communicating with residents through local radio stations and social media platforms, while deploying patrol teams from the taxi industry and other stakeholder groups to monitor affected areas.
Motoko said marshals instructed supporters to remain at designated meeting points and later cancelled planned marches in parts of Bloemfontein to allow law enforcement agencies space to stabilise the situation.
He further claimed none of the arrested individuals were confirmed members of the organisation, saying forum supporters had been instructed to avoid areas where looting and criminal activity occurred.
The protests come amid increasing tensions in some South African communities over illegal immigration, unemployment and service delivery concerns.