PHUTI MOSOMANE
DA councillor Maryke Davies was on Wednesday voted in as Speaker of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
During a council meeting on 29 March 2023, she was elected by a majority vote of 53 out of 93 valid votes.
She defeated ANC Speaker candidate Lawrance Mathae.
Davies received 53 votes, and Mathae received 43 votes.
DA provincial leader Dr Roy Jankielsohn, congratulated Davies: “The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State congratulates Cllr Maryke Davies on her election as the Speaker of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. During a council meeting on 29 March 2023, she was elected by a majority vote of 53 out of 93 valid votes.”
“The DA will ensure that Cllr Davies will use her position to promote transparency and accountability in the municipality and work towards improving the lives of all residents of Mangaung. We look forward to working with her and other council members towards achieving these goals.”
After Davies’ election, news also emerged that some ANC Mangaung Metro councillors allegedly voted in favour of the opposition party in order to give the DA the position of Council Speaker in Mangaung.
On Tuesday, Bloemfontein Chief Magistrate Lindiwe Mbassa sworn in MK veteran Gregory Nthatisi as Mangaung Councillor.
The veteran ANC PEC member is widely expected to take over as Mangaung Metro Mayor.
The City of Mangaung convened a special council meeting at 10h00 to elect a new speaker, after the resignation of the council speaker, Stefani Lockman-Naidoo.
The Metro council is expected to elect a new mayor and chief whip on Thursday, 30 March.
In Mangaung, the ANC has 51 seats, the DA has 26, the EFF has 12, Freedom Front Plus has 5, the PA and AASD have 2 seats each. AIC and ACDP have a seat each.
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