Matlosana mayor Fikile Mahlophe has told the South African Human Rights Commission SAHRC the decision to stop the distribution of free paraffin to indigent communities in the municipality was made by the council and not by him.
Mahlophe was speaking before the commission on Monday after being subpoenaed to account after an almost three-month non-response to the SAHRC. The hearing follows a complaint lodged on September 2 2025 by affected communities.
Qualifying indigent households in several areas that are unelectrified, including Jacaranda, Khuma, Tigane, Sunnyside, Kanana and Jouberton, allegedly stopped getting free paraffin after Mahlophe took office.
