Member of opposition is new Mangaung mayor | Rhewal

Daddy Mokoena

A member of an opposition party was elected mayor of the Mangaung metro council in Bloemfontein on Friday.

Pappie Mokoena of the African Alliance of Social Democrats was the only candidate for the post after ANC members did not turn up for the meeting. Mokoena was also mayor in the early 2000s but then as an ANC member.

The DA’s David Masoeu was chosen as chief whip. The DA’s Maryke Davies was elected speaker of the metro council at the end of last month.

There was barely a quorum for the meeting during which Mokoena and Masoeu were elected. There was tight security at the meeting after Wednesday’s meeting where the mayor and chief whip were to be elected was disrupted by striking municipal workers.

Striking municipal workers blocked the entrance to the building, keeping councilors out. Workers from the metro’s department for water and sanitation as well as garbage removal have been on strike for weeks because they did not get their full salaries or overtime pay last month.

The Mangaung metro has been without leadership for some time after mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana was forced to resign by the ANC and deputy mayor Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane was suspended. After sustained pressure, Acting City Manager Tebogo Motlashuping felt so unsafe that he also resigned.

There were rumors last week that the ANC would boycott the council meeting for fear that this party would have to cede the mayoral post to the opposition because this party’s candidate would not be guaranteed the position.

Eight of the ruling party’s council members have been suspended from the council since the election of the DA speaker because they apparently voted with the opposition for the speaker. One of the members was deputy mayor Mothibi-Nkoane.