Removal of Siyonzana by the ANC a political gimmick & Mangaung council should be dissolved and fresh elections held
16 January 2023
The sudden removal of Mxolisi Siyonzana the Executive Mayor of Mangaung Metro Municipality is a clear demonstration of inherent political strife and skirmishes within the ANC. Before his appointment, the Mangaung Concerned Community and other Civil Society Organisation including Mangaung residents took to the streets, burned tyres opposing his appointment. There were genuine reasons behind those protests that almost threatened his inauguration as a Mayor.
Siyonzana served as the Deputy Mayor to the then Mangaung Mayor, Olly Mlamleli, and was also a Speaker in the same municipality for years.
Under the ANC collective leadership, the municipality became bankrupt and unbankable and corruption and maladministration became the order of the day. Mangaung Metro owes Bloem Water millions of rands for water. There are a myriad of incomplete projects that have cost tax-payers millions such as the idle taxi rank that has turned into a white elephant due to poor workmanship and tender irregularities. This taxi rank cost R40 million, the then Premier Ace Magashule and his allies allegedly benefited from this.
Mangaung residents feel neglected with the roads in an appalling state, this forces motorists to avoid entering the city to do business.