This, after the court case by 16 ANC expelled councillors from the Maluti-A-Phofung was dismissed in the Free State High Court with costs earlier today. The party’s Provincial Secretary, Paseka Nompondo, says this serves as an indication that ANC members should resolve their issues internally within the structure before heading to courts. He alludes that the group is now consulting the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on the matter. Nompondo says following the group’s engagement with the highest structure, the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) will then chart a way forward. The group was expelled from Council last year after they were found guilty of voting with opposition parties during the election of the Speaker of Council and new executive mayor, Gilbert Mokotso. They were accused of defying the party’s resolution to nominate and vote a party-preferred candidate into mayoral office.

OFM News previously reported that the ANC's tripartite alliance partners – the SACP - have expressed their dissatisfaction with the expulsion of the 16 councillors and vowed not to vote for the party nor campaign for it, should the group not be re-instated as soon as possible.

The SACP's Free State second deputy secretary, Mojalefa Simango, said they remain opposed to the ANC's decision to throw its members out in the cold whilst officials allegedly involved in corruption activities remain in their positions.

Nompodo, however, says they are asking people who have any objections with the party to come forward and that they will also be engaging their tripartite alliance partner in the province.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela and Sazly Hartzenberg