By 
Residence of Phomolong in the Free State province brought the economic activity in the area to a halt on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, over an alleged flawed recruitment process at a solar project meant to boost the local economy and create jobs for locals.
The locals expressed their fury by shutting down the town, blocking any activity including essential services like healthcare, schools and emergency. The protest saw the Acting Free State Premier Jabu Mbalula descending to Phomolong to address the angry residents and appealed for calm.
According to the Spokesperson to the Premier Ms Mpho Sikisi, Mbalula, flanked by a high-level multi-stakeholder led a meeting in Henneman on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, where he addressed the unfolding shutdown in Phomolong.
Sikisi said the meeting was a follow up to the community engagement which was addressed by Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae on 15 May 2026. She said the shutdown is as a result of a solar project which is envisaged to commence soon. The community of Phomolong is enraged at what it views as a flawed recruitment process for the project and has now resulted in protest action.
As a result of the protest, essential services have been greatly affected by the ensuing shutdown. Members of the community have unfortunately been unable to access health services and children have also not been able to attend school. Of concern, Grade 12 learners are writing an examination on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
The Acting Premier Mbalula appealed for calmer heads and said, despite the differences between different parties, the education and future of learners must not be compromised, and all reasonable measures must be taken to ensure that there are no hindrances to their schooling and that they are able to write their mid-year examinations.
He further said that the concerns of the community were genuine and must be treated with the necessary humility, given the anger of the community.
“We have promised the people of Phomolong that the Free State Provincial Government will visit the area and update them on the latest developments. What we have always said is that local communities must be the primary beneficiaries of projects in their towns and we stand by that. What we are not going to allow is for individuals to use the genuine concerns of our people for selfish reasons,” said Acting Premier Mbalula.
Also present in the meeting were MEC for Health Monyatso Mahlatsi as well as Councilors Maxie Badenhorst and Phehello Nthuba and representatives of Middelpunt PV Solar, who are responsible for the project.
Acting Premier Jabu Mbalula will today attend a community meeting to further address the matter at the Tiger Sports Ground at 14:00.
