ANC to lose 7 more councilors in Mangaung

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The African National Congress (ANC) in Mangaung is set to lose seven more councilors in a move seen as solidarity towards the expelled Mangaung 7 (M7).

In March 2023, the regional leadership expelled M7 for allegedly voting with the opposition in 2022 but only got expelled just a day after the newly elected chairman, Lawrence Mathae lost the speaker position to DA’s, Maryke Davis, a decision the provincial secretary in court papers said was taken in June 2022.

In the Interim Regional Committee letter there were eight names and the ANC REC when communicating its decision on 30 March 2023, said one councillor showed remorse.

The name of the eighth person in the IRC letter is Puseletso Seleka.

The names of seven councillors set to jump ship have been provided to this publication and are withheld with sources in the ANC saying the expulsion of M7 instead of the M22 was a big miscalculation.

“It was always a matter of WHEN instead of IF and we miscalculated this. We know there were 22 councillors but maybe assumed if we made an example of the 7 things will be under control.

The plan has always been to render the municipality ungovernable and we are helping the N8 cabal.”

According to sources, 22 councillors supported the motion or the report but it’s not clear how the ruling party arrived at the 7.

The ANC just like in Maluti-A-Phofung will contest by-elections with their expelled councilors after they expelled 16 councilors and the same councilors took all wards in the by-elections.

Will the results be different from that of MAP-16?

The ANC in the Free State has always been muddied by divisions and factional battles with N8 and Southern Sun at the center of disunity, both factions had their regional conferences though Luthuli House recognized a conference aligned to the current Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana.

Both conferences were endorsed by IPC members and another conference that saw members from the opposing faction locked outside was held in Lejweleputswa where police were seen in videos blocking branch delegates trying to access the venue.

Should the councilors resign, the troubled municipality will move deeper into crisis as there will be another by-election leading up to the national elections.

This is a developing story.

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