By Thys Khiba – The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State has welcomed the election of Gregory Nthatisi as the new acting Mayor of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on Tuesday.
“The ANC is pleased that Comrade Gregory Nthatisi was successfully elected as the Acting Executive Mayor,” said ANC Free State spokesperson Jabu Mbalula.
ANC Free State newly appointed Spokesperson, Jabu Mbalula reflects on the decisions of the party’s provincial Lekgotla.
His election follows a High Court judgement interdicted the African Alliance of Social Democrats (AASD)’s President PapiMokoena, from executing his duties as the mayor.
Mbalula confirmed the party is also happy that ANC’s VumileNikelo has retained his seat council as council whip of the City of Mangaung.
“We want to reiterate that his voting out by council was flawed.
“We are therefore happy that Comrade Nikelo has been correctly retained to his position, as is the preference of the ANC and the people of Mangaung,” said Mbalula.
The party has expelled seven councillors including the City’s deputy mayor Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane for voting with opposition parties.
For defying the party line and caucus decision not to attend a council sitting until certain issues were clarified.
Amongst those who have been expelled by the ANC in Mangaung, the Deputy Executive Mayor, Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane and former Speaker Stefani Lockman-Naidoo are also included in the list of fired councillors.
“Nobody is bigger than the ANC. As per the ANC constitution rule 25.35 these expelled individuals have a right to appeal this verdict, effectively from the day of receiving this communication,” said ANC Mangaung regional Secretary Patrick Monyakoana.
During a press briefing, Monyakoana reminded the public of the defiance of the caucus decision by certain councillors not to attend a council sitting until certain issues were clarified.
This included their participation in the alleged illegal removable of the then Acting City Manager.
The ANC has accused its councillors of voting with the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) to ensure that the party preferred candidate for the position of the Council Speaker, Lawrence Mathae is not elected.
“The outcome of that voting process to elect the Council Speaker, as announced; reflected that the opposition parties had received more votes than they jointly hold in the Council.
“The higher votes received by the opposition means that certain ANC members had deliberately colluded with the opposition, to ensure that the ANC preferred candidate for the position of the Council Speaker is not elected,” said Monyakoana.
The denied divisions within the ANC in the region were full display when some its councillors in the council on Wednesday failed to follow the party line when they voted for DA councillor Maryke Davies to be the new speaker of the municipality.
The governing party, ANC received 51% outright majority in the 2021 Local Government Elections and this places the party as the majority party in the City.
According to Monyakoana, the ANC viewed the behaviour of its councillors as unacceptable and highest form of arson.”
On Tuesday, 28 March, the City has welcomed two new members of the Mangaung Council, party PEC member Nthatisiand party regional chairperson Mathae at the Bram Fischer Building.
Mangaung was placed under the national intervention in April last year after it failed to implement the financial recovery plan.
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