IN CONVERSATION WITH Innocent Moloi Paralegal.
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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) convened a subpoena hearing against the Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana, Councillor Fikile Mahlophe, this week after months of non response to an investigation into allegations that the municipality withheld free paraffin from qualifying indigent households in several rural and unelectrified areas. The hearing was held at the SAHRC’s North West offices in Rustenburg and aimed to establish whether the municipality’s conduct violated constitutional and human rights obligations.
The complaint was lodged in September 2025 by a resident who said the paraffin programme was halted after the mayor took office — depriving vulnerable households dependent on paraffin for cooking and heating of a basic necessity. The SAHRC attempted to engage the mayor, but correspondence went unanswered, prompting the subpoena.
The complaint was lodged in September 2025 by a resident who said the paraffin programme was halted after the mayor took office — depriving vulnerable households dependent on paraffin for cooking and heating of a basic necessity. The SAHRC attempted to engage the mayor, but correspondence went unanswered, prompting the subpoena.
