The vacancies in the embattled Free State municipality famously occurred when the ANC expelled 16 of its councillors for rebelling against the party’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), and colluding with the opposition to elect Gilbert Mokotso as the new mayor of Maluti during a council meeting in June 2018. The IEC in the Free State says the by-election date is yet to be finalised, but further details can be expected soon.

Mokotso, who forms part of the expelled group, was meant to replace former mayor and current Chief Whip of the Free State Legislature, Vusi Tshabalala before the group’s plans were thwarted by the ruling party. Tshabalala, along with the Speaker, Malewatle Nthedi and Chief Whip, Mmoledi Moloi, were recalled by the Free State Provincial Task Team (PTT) in early May 2018 amidst allegations of corruption and maladministration. The ousted councillors fought back, first appealing the decision within the ANC and later taking the matter to the Bloemfontein High Court, where Judge Johannes Petrus Daffue shot down the group’s bid after their legal counsel did not make it to the sitting due to illness.

All this while the municipality continued to experience financial strain, with its major debt to Eskom, threatening to leave QwaQwa and surrounding areas without any power. Water troubles have also plagued the municipality in recent months, even with a recovery plan ordered by the High Court in place.

OFM News