This follows the 2021 Local Government Elections which saw the ruling ANC retaining the metro with a margin of 50.63%. If elected as the mayor, Mothibi-Nkoane, who is now just a mayoral candidate, will replace former mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana, who had at least a four-month stint at the mayoral position. 

OFM News previously reported that according to sources in the upper echelons within the party, there were two groups at opposing sides regarding the selection of the mayor. One group wanted a new female mayor to take over as the new mayor whilst another group insisted that Siyonzana continues where he left off as the mayor.

This group that insisted on Siyonzana, argued that he is already in the thick of things and it would be prudent for him to continue as the mayor. Prior to Mothibi-Nkoane’s candidacy for the mayoral position, residents of the Metro were mobilising civil society movements and individuals from political parties to pressurise the ANC's process to elect a new mayor.

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Residents held a community meeting in Bloemfontein with civil society movements such as the Mangaung Service Delivery Forum (MSDF). Residents wanted the same processes that the ANC followed to select party candidates as ward councillors, to be used in the selection of the mayor. 

In August this year the ANC Women's League's (ANCWL) chairperson in the Free State, Mothibi-Nkoane, was elected as the Mangaung Metro's new speaker. She received 54 votes against the 24 votes for the DA's David Masoeu. Only 7 votes were spoiled with 85 councillors who registered to vote.

OFM News