Judge Pitso Molitsoane on Friday 23 June 2023 gave a ruling which confirmed an earlier court order by his colleague Judge Ilse van Rhyn when she gave an interim order in favour of the ANC in Mangaung. Judge Molistoane gave an order with costs. As things stand now all looks set for the much-anticipated by-election set to be held in July 2023.

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The by-elections are necessary after the ANC fired eight of its councillors in March this year after they allegedly voted with opposition parties to vote in a DA speaker Maryke Davies.

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Amongst those in the ANC who were fired, are the former Mangaung Deputy Mayor (DM) Mapaseka Nkoane-Mothibi and former speaker Stefanie Lockman-Naidoo.

The party had applied to confirm an order after some of the councillors defied the party or ignored the earlier judgment by Judge Rhyn, by sitting in a council meeting that elected opposition party leader Papi Mokoeana as the Executive Mayor of the ailing Metro on 14 April 2023.

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On Thursday 1 June 2023, Acting Judge Sharon Chisiwe confirmed her interim order which she delivered on 20 April 2023. The 20 April order temporarily barred the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats President, Papi Mokoena, from executing his duties as the metro mayor.

This after the ANC dragged the council and Mokoena to court after a council sitting on 14 April duly elected him as the executive mayor.

Mokoena was elected unopposed as the new mayor of the metro on Friday 14 April 2023 during a heavily guarded council sitting.

A total of 53 councillors, including the council speaker Maryke Davies, formed a quorum and according to Davies, this allowed a sitting.

The Acting City Manager, Tebogo Motlashuping, and other officials, including the Head of Departments and members of the Independent Electoral Commission, declined to attend the sitting due to safety concerns.

The Metro does not have a permanent executive mayor with Gregory Nthatisi acting as one for now.

OFM News