A few years ago Carte Blanche ran a story on the mayor and corruption in the same municipality. Here's a report done by the DA on South Africa's worst municipalties: from page 7 is Kokstad http://www.da.org.za/docs/633/5%20worst%20munnicipalities_document.pdf
Since the above story and report unfortunately nothing has changed in this municipality that offers so much business and development potential; it is the crossroad linking the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
So yes, what the EFF has done might seem harsh but after years and years of the community complaining with no results - perhaps they have actually done something that can bring some positive results.