This is as parties on Wednesday 19 July 2023 contested the by-elections in Mangaung following the expulsion of these seven councillors in March 2023.

ALSO READ: Mangaung residents head to polls for by-election

Speaking to OFM News in Botshabelo in ward 29 where he is contesting the election, Mpho Makoakoa says the ANC has deprived residents of Botshabelo of basic service delivery for years despite numerous calls to speed up the process of services to the people. Makoakoa says instead of giving services to the people the ruling party has turned its eye to loot monies from the coffers of government whilst the masses of people on the ground continue to live in squalor conditions across the metro. Makoakoa says they were told that the metro had no diesel and funds to take services to the people. He says he is shocked that on the eve or days leading up to the by-election, services are now being taken to people in an attempt lure to their votes.

“The ANC fired me when I tried to intervene and raise issues that the budget passed by the metro, did not speak to the needs of my people. We didn't have services in our area but now we see roads are being fixed, they have given residents title deeds and food. They have turned our people into dogs, they are buying votes with food and blankets. However,  we are confident that as the M7, we will turn around things in government. We want the ANC to sit in opposition benches and watch as we do things in the correct ways. They were talking about corruption but we have not seen even one person being arrested for corruption among them. So now we want to root out corruption from them and show them that they are the corrupt ones,” Makoakoa added.

Meanwhile, another expelled councillor from Ward 7 In Turflaagte, in Bloemfontein, Chabeli Rampai, has echoed similar sentiments. He says on numerous previous occasions the ruling party failed to attend to the needs of struggling residents but they have now started taking services to the people because of the election. Rampai said he has written on several occasions pleading with the leadership to attend to issues of service delivery but instead, the calls constantly fell on deaf ears.

The by-elections will take place from 08:00 to 17:00. Rasengani said close to 30 000 people from the four wards are registered voters. On Tuesday (18/7) elderly people and those who qualify for special votes cast their votes.

Previously, the IEC Free State spokesperson, Mmathabo Rasemgane said the by-elections will be held in Ward 7 (Bloemfontein, with 6 927 registered voters), Ward 39 (Botshabelo, 8117 registered voters), Thaba Nchu (7 770 registered voters) and Wepener (7 116 registered voters), which all became vacant as a result of the councillor’s membership being terminated by the party.

OFM News