Scores of the DA members are accusing the party of ignoring due processes, specifically with regards to the selection process of PR councillors. One of the members and former provincial youth leader, Nomayeza Bagamela, tells OFM News that two of the party's PR councillors were flown to Bloemfontein to become councillors whilst a handful of party members who have been working the ground for years were overlooked. Bagamela alleges that members of the top brass of the party have been derailing the process in favour of their preferred candidates.

Meanwhile, the DA's new caucus leader in mangaung, Johan Pretorius, tells OFM News that the higher structure of the party is handling it and he is unable to comment on the matter.  

Meanwhile, members of the Mangaung Concerned Community (MMC) are also inside the premises. They are expected to hand over their memorandum of grievances.

MCC spokesperson, Themba Zweni, previously said the municipal councillors have over the past five years proven that they care less about the community of Mangaung.

"In 2016, when these councillors took over, the Council had accumulated over R11,4 billion in surplus but two years later that surplus was depleted and we ended up with a deficit of R268 million. We became a capital city of potholes, sewer spillages and unaccounted, material water losses," Zweni added.

The inauguration of councillors has already commenced and they are being sworn in in groups of ten.

Ten EFF members, including Baba Sebolao, amongst others, have been sworn in. This follows the Local Government Elections which saw the ruling party ANC retaining the Metro with a margin of 50.63%, which gave the party 51 seats.

The Bloemfontein Senior Magistrate, Mxolisi Saliwa, is presiding over the proceedings by swearing in the councillors.

Party members to be sworn are from the EFF, DA, Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), Patriotric Alliance (PA), the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats (AASD), among others.

OFM News