ANC out in Mangaung as opposition parties install new mayor

The Mangaung Metro has slipped away from the African National Congress (ANC) after opposition parties elected Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats (AASD) leader Papi Mokoena as mayor.

Of the total 101 council members, only 53 were present at Friday’s special council meeting.

The ANC, which holds a majority with 51 seats, boycotted the sitting, except for its expelled councillors – Patrick Monyakoane and deputy mayor Mapaseka Mothibi – whose presence helped Mokoena to assume mayorship.

According to speaker Maryke Davies, the meeting reached a quorum, paving the way for the election of mayor and council whip.

Mokoena returned as mayor on Friday under the banner of the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats (AASD), a political party he formed after he was fired by the ANC in 2005.

He was the sole candidate and took the mayoral chain unopposed. Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor David Masoeu is now chief whip of council, also elected unopposed.

“Councillor Mokoena we trust you will draw from your experience to restore this city to its former glory, we are hoping there will be change. The dire state of Mangaung speaks for itself.

“The PA is hoping for opportunities for the youth and job creation,” said Kelvin Van Der Ross of the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

Mangaung council couldn’t sit for weeks because of threats and fear of violence, coupled with a destructive workers’ strike.

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‘Change is here’

Delivering his acceptance speech, Mokoena thanked opposition parties, adding that he will also reach out to the employees to work together in the interest of reversing collapsed services.

He said he was humbled by councillors who relentlessly advocated for a better municipality.

“Positive change is here. The municipality is in a dire situation, and without you, we cannot lift it out of this.

“I have accepted to be the steward of the collective for 101 people sent by residents of Mangaung. Today we have sent a message that we are up to the task. We are going to be serious at work, and we respect them and their rights.

“It is for that reason that I say we have sent a message to the employees of Mangaung that change is here and that we want to invite them to be part of this historic moment to ensure they are on board to ensure the people get what they deserve. This is not a one-man job, but I understand fully the implications of a leaderless organisation, I give myself to this project to ensure that Mangaung rises again,” Mokoena said.

He replaces ex-mayor, ANC’s Mxolisi Siyonzana, who was fired by his party in January.

Mokoena returns to the helm after a previous stint back when he was an ANC councillor. The party expelled Mokoena in 2005.

He later faced a myriad of corruption, fraud and racketeering charges laid against him, his wife and several others.

Mokoena and his wife were acquitted in the Free State High Court in 2012.

Meeting ‘illegal’

Before the meeting got underway, ANC obtained a court interdict against councillors it expelled for voting with the opposition. The interdict sought to prevent them from taking part in council sittings.

The party accused Mothibi and Monyakoane of being “DA projects”.

“Today’s court interdict has delegitimised the meeting, it has rendered any decision by that illegal council meeting as null and void. The intention of the DA crooks to steal democratic processes will not see the light of day under the watch of the ANC.

“The rogue and expelled ANC councillors have now justified our suspicions that they were DA projects, they had been sent to the ANC to infiltrate the movement and their continuous allegiance and support of the DA in council proves our suspicions that they are possibly handled by the DA,” ANC Mangaung region said in a statement.

Another court action will be launched to challenge the legality of Friday’s sitting, the party said.

Legal advice on absent councillors

Davies said a legal opinion has been sought on councillors being absent without forwarding reasons why.

“All councillors were notified about this meeting. One must send an apology 12 hours before, as it is in our rules and procedures.

“There is standing case law on skipping meetings. Unfortunately, we cannot postpone this sitting for the mere fact that some councillors didn’t pitch. We have a quorum and can continue with the meeting,” she said.

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