Lockman-Naidoo addressed her resignation letter to the Acting Municipal Manager (ACM) Tebego Motlashuping on Wednesday 15 March 2023. Her resignation comes after the embattled former mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana recently resigned after the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) decided to recall him.

In her resignation letter, Lockman-Naidoo said: "I want to thank the ANC for entrusting me with this position and believe and trust that the organisation will consider our discussions over the last few weeks.

"The ANC remains the leader of society and as a loyal and disciplined member I will abide by any decision the organisation implements and I shall trust in that wisdom.

"I am available and will continue to serve the organisation with honour and diligence."

Lockman-Naidoo and the Mangaung Metro's ANC regional committee had opposing views since her election as the speaker, after taking over from Siyonzana.

In 2022, the Mangaung ANC's Interim Regional Committee (IRC) suspended Lockman-Naidoo.

Her immediate suspension followed after she allegedly defied the order of the party, not to allow a sitting which saw the former Acting City Manager, Sello More, removed from his office.

ALSO READ – #BreakingNews: Mangaung ANC suspends speaker

A month later, after the announcement of her suspension, the ANC Mangaung dragged Lockman-Naidoo to a disciplinary hearing.

The charges related to her allegedly defying the party mandate in council.

A letter shown to OFM News stated that Stefanie Lockman-Naidoo was formally charged on 12 May 2022 on two counts.

It stated that she allegedly knowingly and intentionally defied the resolution of the ANC Caucus in council by allowing a motion to be debated in the House when it was supposed to have been referred to ANC structures in council.

ALSO READ – #Exclusive: ANC charges one of its own in Mangaung

Lockman-Naidoo later said the charges against her were a witch-hunt from different ANC factions, led by the convener and coordinator of the Mangaung’s Interim Regional Committee (IRC).  

ALSO READ: Mangaung Speaker describes charges as a 'witch-hunt'

The metro which is currently under the national government's intervention for failure to deliver mere basic services to residents is now without a mayor, permanent MM, and speaker.

ALSO READ – #BreakingNews: Mangaung stripped of its powers by national government

Recently, the ANC’s national upper structure, the National Executive Committee (NEC), has made its decision on who to replace the embattled Siyonzana with as the new mayor.

ANC Mangaung's regional spokesperson in the Free State, Ngcamisa Nxangisa, confirmed to OFM News that the NEC has selected the Umkhonto weSizwe veteran Gregory Nthathisi to replace Siyonzana.

Nxangisa also confirmed that Siyonzana tendered his resignation letter to the party after the PEC, led by its chairperson, Mxolisi Dukwana, and provincial secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng, decided to redeploy him.

ALSO READ: ANC decided on replacement for Mangaung mayor

“The ANC in Mangaung had the privilege of being briefed by the PEC of the ANC, led by the secretary, comrade Polediso Motsoeneng, that indeed the executive mayor of Mangaung, comrade Mxolisi Siyonzana, handed in his resignation letter as both the executive mayor and councillor in the Mangaung Metro Municipal Council. We immediately accepted and thanked the councillor for a sterling contribution spanning more than 10 years in that municipality,” Nxangisa added.

The move to redeploy him comes after the ailing metro went through a series of service delivery challenges and failures for years, which at some time left residents angry and ultimately engaging in protests. ANC PEC spokesperson, Jabu Mbalula, previously told OFM News that the party's PEC undertook a robust and honest reflection on the governance and local government level.

“As a consequence, there is an appreciation that misalignment exists between the ANC election manifesto and the performance of our government. The PEC affirmed the 9th provincial conference resolution that extraordinary efforts are needed to strengthen both the provincial and local governments. In this regard, the PEC resolved to redeploy the Free State Premier, Cde Sefora Ntombela and Siyonzana. The PEC mandated its officials to engage the national officials to process and finalise the decision.

The ANC in the province wishes to thank these comrades for their contribution to the portfolios within which they were deployed. Furthermore, the PEC appreciates the comradely spirit with which the said comrades received the ANC decision,” Mbalula added.

The ANC had selected the Member of Parliament (MP) Seiso Mohai, the Free State convener of the Women’s League, and current Mayoral Member of the Committee (MMC) Lulama Titi-Odili, for interviews with the NEC.

Meanwhile, the election of Nthathisi as the mayor is set to take place next week. But it's, however, understood that issues are besieging Nthathisi, picked up by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). It said the ANC might have to go back to the drawing board and select Lawrence Mathae as the new mayoral candidate.

OFM News