Is the ANC repeating Tshwane and Paul Roux mistake?

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The African National Congress (ANC) in Free State is likely to have Tshwane and Paul Roux moment or rather deja vu following accusations that at least two nominated ward candidates were imposed.

In Tshwane the ANC imposed Doko Didiza despite residents making it “no Sputla, no vote”. They lost the Tshwane Metro to the DA.

The ruling party in Mangaung will contest Ward 7, 29, 49 & 50 in the upcoming by-elections to be held on the 19 July 2023.

The full list of ANC’s ward candidates:

Ward 7- Clement Sehloho

Ward 29 – Dikololo Matshepe

Ward 49- Julia Lekhwele

Ward 50- Thabo Monare

Just like in Tshwane and Paul Roux, the communities of ward 7 and 49 accuse ANC of imposing Clement Sehloho and Julia Lekhwele over Thuso Boqwa and Joyce Moleta respectively.

A source from ward 7 said the campaign was even boycotted by their volunteers.

“Volunteers from our ward didn’t even show up and to save face the leadership brought volunteers from other wards.

We want Thuso Boqwa not Clement Sehlabo, otherwise ward 7 is gone.”

The campaign in ward 7 was led by Provincial Secretary, Polidiso “50 000 jobs for the youth” Motsoeneneng.

Motsoeneng went retrospective and told anyone who cared to listen the ANC will provide “Better Life For All”.

A 1994 slogan in a municipality full of uncollected garbage, potholes and maladministration.

The ANC in Mangaung has 51 seats and only victory in all four wards will grant it overwhelming majority otherwise the municipality will be hung.

In other news the scheduled Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality ordinary council sitting collapsed on Wednesday, 05 July 2023, after opposition parties boycotted the NCR & National Interim EMT sponsored agenda that sought to secure ANC councillors “non-vacant” permanent positions currently held by interdicted Pappie Mokoena of AASD “Executive Mayor”, “axed” former ANC Cllr Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane “Deputy Executive Mayor”, Cllr Mpho Mokoakoa “MPAC Chairperson” and the non-interdicted Cllr David Masoeu of DA who was illegally removed by similar NCR & Interim EMT sponsored election item.

That said, the acting Executive Mayor has 3 more weeks as his acting will come to an end on the 26 July 2023 and indications are the City won’t have a Mayor as there won’t be any council meeting scheduled to extend Nthatisi’s tenure and it will be interesting to see if the DA’s Maryke Davis will call a special meeting.

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