The Speaker of the Legislature, Zanele Sifuba, told the gathering at the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein on Thursday afternoon 23 February, that according to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the process to elect the new premier to replace former Premier Sisi Ntombela can only take place tomorrow.

She said that as the Legislature, they are merely facilitating the process. 

Contrary to what Sifuba said, OFM News has reliably been informed that those who organised the special sitting in fact got the date wrong.

While the Legislature had the date for the sitting as 23 February, the Judiciary had it as 24 February. 

Sifuba has postponed the sitting to Friday and apologised for any inconvenience caused. 

Former Premier Ntombela's resignation will take effect when the new premier is elected.

"The Chief Justice has determined that this process will take place tomorrow, 24 February 2023, at 10:00 so that we may convene again. We want to sincerely apologise for making people wait here for such a long time, but unfortunately, that is where we are," Sifuba added. 

The process was set to start at 14:00 on Thursday. Sifuba broke the news about the postponement two hours later. 

Dukwana was set to be elected as the new premier after former Premier Sisi Ntombela tendered her resignation letter on Tuesday, 21 February 2023. 

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During the proceedings, Sifuba will convene the sitting, allow for the nomination process to unfold and the secondments from all parties, and then allow for voting, whereafter she will announce the duly elected premier.

The new premier will then be sworn in by the Free State High Court Judge President. It's understood that Dukwana will be elected as premier, unopposed.

OFM News previously reported that the spokesperson for the newly elected ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), Jabu Mbalula, announced that the PEC had resolved to redeploy Ntombela and the mayor of the Mangaung municipality, Mxolisi Siyonzana.

Mbalula told OFM News that the PEC decided that Dukwana, as the ANC chairperson in the province, should ascend to the position of premier. 

OFM News