Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane received 55 votes, edging her DA rival, Dirk Kotze, who managed to garner 44 votes from council members. Mothibi-Nkoane was previously taunted as the mayoral candidate for the metro but in a twist of events, the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) last night revealed that Mxolisi Siyonzana was nominated as the mayor-elect candidate.

Mothibi-Nkoane's election as the deputy mayor follows talks of a rift within the party with those aligned with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa or suspended Secretary-General (SG) Ace Magashule, opposing each on the mayor-elect candidacy. However, the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (ANC) spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, told OFM News he had confidence that the ANC would work and vote in one voice to elect both speaker and mayor.

Meanwhile, Mxolisi Siyonzana was re-elected as the mayor of the metro.

Siyonzana received 56 votes, the DA candidate Johan Pretorius received 29 whilst the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats' (AASD) Papi Mokoena only managed 15 votes.

This means that five councillors from other political parties voted with the ANC to elect Siyonzana as the mayor. ANC's speaker candidate, Stephani Lockman, was also elected as the new speaker of the metro. 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. 

ANC heavyweights such as David Mahlobo are also present at the venue. Mahlobo, among other ANC members, held an internal ANC caucus ahead of today’s proceedings.

OFM News