Two members of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Mangaung metropolitan municipality, in the Free State, have nabbed the posts of mayor and chief whip.

ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) member Gregory Nthatisi was elected as the new acting mayor of the metro, following the recent court interdict against former mayor Papi Mokoena, of the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats.

Nthatisi was elected alongside ANC chief whip Vumule Mnikelo who will stand in as the council chief whip, replacing Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor David Mosoeu. This was decided during a special council meeting of the metro on Tuesday.

The two councillors will serve from the end of April until the court interdict against the former mayor is resolved. Mokoena’s position as mayor was found to be unlawful by the High Court, following an interdict which was filed by the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters, on April 14.

Three more ANC councillors, namely Sibongile Tsoleli, Vusimuzi Soqaqa and Maria Letawana, were welcomed into the Mangaung metro. The trio was processed by the Independent Electoral Commission, in line with the provision of Item 18 of Schedule 1 of the Municipal Structures Act.

The ANC further welcomed the decision of the council to give concurrence to the proposal of the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for Ngaka Dumalisile to serve as the acting city manager.

According to ANC Free State provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng, such developments are to be welcomed and embraced by the residents of Mangaung as they will enhance the capacity of the metro to deliver much-needed quality services to residents.

Motsoeneng urged those elected to move quickly to address challenges in Mangaung, including malfeasance, corruption and the high vacancy rate in the metro.

“We wish the elected Comrades well and have no doubt that they are equal to the task at hand. The ANC has always maintained that it is committed to fundamentally [changing] the leadership of the metro, and will leave no stone unturned to achieve that goal. No amount of sabotage, ill-discipline… will derail the course of the revolution,” said Motsoeneng.