Mxolisi Siyonzana has been elected by the council as the new mayor of Mangaung on Monday, while Councillor Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane was chosen as the new council speaker.

It has been a year since ANC councillors supported a motion of no confidence over Olly Mlamleli, leaving the metro without a mayor since August last year. A lot has been happening within the ANC and after the president’s cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, the appointment of a new mayor for Mangaung does not come as a surprise.

Mxolisi, happens to be close with ANC suspended secretary general Ace Magashule. He was the speakers of the council before the ANC interim provincial committee chose Siyonzana as their preferred mayoral candidate. Siyonzana in anticipation of his appointment, left his position as speaker of the council last week.

He won 57 votes out of the 87 ballots casted, even though there were 88 councillors running.