Staff Reporter
Mangaung Metro executive mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana says the ANC will establish long-standing working relationships with all parties in council in a bid to turn around the city and improve the lives of the people.
In a brief acceptance speech after being re-elected mayor of the Free State capital after serving for less than three months in the last administration, Siyonzana said the city is faced with a host of challenges which can best be addressed if all councillors work together.
“We are going to form cooperation (agreements) with all parties,” he said.
The mayor said several topical issues will be raised as councillors strive to serve the people they represent, but that should not cause disunity as all residents have a right to quality services.
“There will be topical issues that we are going to deal with . . . you raised the issue of water. I think we need to discuss it as political parties . . . and work together to improve the lives of our people,” he said.
“Each and every one who is here has a constituency . . . and I promise you we are going to work with all of you. We are going to hear what our people want and we are going to move with them,” he added.
Siyonzana received 56 votes when council voted at its first sitting on Monday, while DA candidate Johan Pretorius got 29 and Papi Mokoena of the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats was a distant third with 15 votes.
Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane will be the city’s deputy mayor.
Earlier, council voted Stephani Lockman of the ANC to become the next speaker for Mangaung after she received 54 votes in a two-horse race in which the DA’s David Masoeu got 30 votes.
Two ballots were spoilt and the EFF abstained though the party later participated in the other votes.