Lockman received 54 votes, edging her rival, the DA's David Masoeu, who received 30 votes with two votes spoiled. In total, 84 votes were cast by various councillors, with 51 of the ANC who voted for Lockman, which means 3 other councillors also voted with the ANC.

The ruling ANC retained the metro with a margin of 50,63% and this gave them 51 seats in the council.

Meanwhile, the ANC's Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the Free State has refuted nationalism claims in the Mangaung Metro. IPC spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, told OFM News that the party is ready and will speak in one voice for the election of the mayor. This, after sources within the party suggested that a battle between two opposing factions, aligned to ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and suspended ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule, was expected to play itself out at the troubled Bloemfontein-based Mangaung Metro.

OFM News