The troubled Bloemfontein Metro held its first council meeting after the by-elections held in July 2023.  

The motion tabled by an opposition party, the African Transportation Movement (ATM), failed after it emerged that seven expelled ANC councillors appealed their expulsion from the ruling party. 

The motion against Maryke Davies relates to an apparent meeting, of which the content is sub judice. 

ATM is an ally of the ruling party in the council forming a strong alliance in supporting the ANC 51 council member majority rule.

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DA Caucus Leader Johan Pretorius previously told OFM News that they had plans to reject the planned motion. He said it would have been illegal for the council to discuss such.

The ANC's Gregory Nthatisi was re-elected as the Acting Executive Mayor on Friday.

This after on two previous occasions this month, the council failed to meet the quorum after opposition party members boycotted the sitting.

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The council has been plunged into constant disruption with the ANC infighting taking over the politics of the council. In March this year, the ANC fired eight members for allegedly voting with opposition parties to elect a DA speaker.

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Whilst the ANC infighting continued unabated later on in April, ANC councillors voted with opposition parties again to vote in an opposition party leader Papi Mokoena as the Executive Mayor but his victory was shortlived after the High Court Judge Sharon Chisiwe gave an order which interdicted Mokoena from executing his duties.

However, it remains to be seen if the ANC, with 51 members and the support of three more parties, will sing the same tune and carry out the mandate of the ruling party.  

On 19 July 2023, the ANC retained all wards in Mangaung during by-elections contested in wards 50, 49, 29, and 7.

OFM News