BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government has directed the Mbabane City Council to restore municipal services in Mangwaneni, bringing relief to residents who have endured disruptions in essential services amid a long-running dispute over the area’s administrative jurisdiction.
The directive was announced on Sunday, September 20, 2026, by Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Dr Simon Zwane during a community meeting held at Mangwaneni Community Primary School.
Zwane represented Minister of Housing and Urban Development Appolo Maphalala, who had been tasked with taking the Mangwaneni matter to Ludzidzini Council to establish whether the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Mbabane City Council or remains under traditional authority because of the presence of a royal kraal.
Following the consultations, Government has now instructed the municipality to resume services in the area.
Among the services expected to return are garbage collection and the operations of the Mangwaneni Care Point, which had been affected by the dispute.
The announcement was met with mixed reactions at the meeting, with residents divided over the municipality’s continued involvement in Mangwaneni. The disagreement became so intense that proceedings were disrupted as residents expressed opposing views on the council’s role.
Despite the divisions, the restoration of municipal services represents a significant development for residents, particularly families and children who depended on facilities such as the Mangwaneni Care Point.
Ward 3 Councillor Sandile Ndzingane, whose ward includes Mangwaneni, confirmed the meeting and its outcome.
Also present at the meeting was Mbabane Mayor Thulani Mkhonto, who has consistently maintained that Mangwaneni falls within the jurisdiction of the municipal council.
The latest development comes after years of disagreement between residents and the municipality over whether the area should be administered as part of the city or under traditional authority.
The dispute has had direct consequences for service delivery. In 2025, the municipality suspended waste collection in Mangwaneni after residents challenged the council’s authority over the area. Reports at the time indicated that accumulated waste had become a concern for residents, prompting community members to organise their own clean-up campaign.
The dispute also affected the Mangwaneni Neighbourhood Care Point. The facility was closed in February 2025, reportedly affecting hundreds of children who depended on it for meals and other support. It was reported that about 460 children were affected.
The municipality previously said the jurisdictional dispute was complicated by the presence of the Mangwaneni Royal Kraal, while maintaining that the area falls within its municipal jurisdiction. The council has also linked its position to the legal framework governing Mbabane’s boundaries.
The matter has remained a longstanding challenge for local administration. Earlier municipal documentation identified disputed council jurisdiction as one of the key challenges affecting development control and service delivery in Mangwaneni. The council’s 2023/24 annual report also recorded difficulties experienced by service providers operating in the area.
On Saturday, September 19, the day before Sunday’s meeting, Mayor Mkhonto again publicly maintained that Mangwaneni falls under the municipality and said the council would continue with its mandate in the area. He also indicated that the issue of services for children had been addressed and that municipal services could resume.
Sunday’s intervention by the Ministry therefore moves the matter from a prolonged dispute over municipal operations towards the immediate restoration of services.
For Mangwaneni residents, the return of waste collection and the reopening of the Care Point are expected to provide practical relief while the broader question of jurisdiction continues to be addressed through the relevant authorities.
The development also places emphasis on ensuring that disagreements over governance and jurisdiction do not result in residents, particularly vulnerable children, losing access to basic community services.
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