The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (Sotho: Masepala o Moholo wa Mangaung; Zulu: UMasipala weDolobhakazi laseMangawunge; Afrikaans: Mangaung Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit; Tswana: Mmasepala wa Toropokgolo ya Mangaung; Xhosa: uMasipala oMbaxa wase Mangaung) is a metropolitan municipality which governs Bloemfontein and surrounding towns in the Free State province of South Africa. Mangaung is a Sesotho word meaning "place of cheetahs", as it was not uncommon for the Basotho to name warrior regiments after ferocious animals.
Mangaung
Bloemfontein | |
|---|---|
| Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality | |
 Seal | |
.svg) Location in the Free State | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| Seat | Bloemfontein |
| Wards | 51 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal council |
| • Mayor | Gregory Nthatisi (ANC) |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,284 km2 (2,426 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[2] | |
• Total | 811,431 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2022) | |
| • Black African | 87.9% |
| • Coloured | 3.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 7.8% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Sotho | 53.3% |
| • Afrikaans | 16.2% |
| • Tswana | 12.6% |
| • Xhosa | 9.9% |
| • Other | 8% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Municipal code | MAN |
Before the municipal elections of 18 May 2011, Mangaung was a local municipality within the Motheo District Municipality.[4] In the municipal elections held on 1 November 2021, the African National Congress won 51 out of 100 seats on the Metro Council, while the Democratic Alliance won 26 seats and the Economic Freedom Fighters won 12 seats.
Main places
editThe 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:[5]
| Place | Code | Area (km2) | Population | Most spoken language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barolong Baga Moroka | 40501 | 911.66 | 8,556 | Sotho |
| Bloemfontein | 40502 | 287.46 | 111,697 | Afrikaans |
| Botshabelo | 40503 | 228.79 | 175,822 | Sotho |
| Mangaung | 40504 | 46.23 | 217,076 | Sotho |
| Morago | 40505 | 221.37 | 3,941 | Tswana |
| Opkoms | 40506 | 2.84 | 15,397 | Afrikaans |
| Peter Swart | 40507 | 1.97 | 10,002 | Sotho |
| Rodenbeck | 40508 | 2.05 | 7,837 | Sotho |
| Sonskyn | 40509 | 0.80 | 3,630 | Sotho |
| Thaba 'Nchu | 40510 | 216.23 | 67,269 | Sotho |
| Remainder of the municipality | 40511 | 4,364.11 | 24,220 | Sotho |
Politics
editThe municipal council consists of one hundred members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Fifty councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in fifty wards, while the remaining fifty are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the 2021 South African municipal elections of 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of fifty-one seats on the council. The following table shows the results of the election.[6]
| Party | Ward | List | Total seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
| African National Congress | 87,100 | 49.75 | 40 | 90,672 | 51.51 | 11 | 51 | |
| Democratic Alliance | 45,482 | 25.98 | 11 | 44,857 | 25.48 | 15 | 26 | |
| Economic Freedom Fighters | 19,681 | 11.24 | 0 | 20,018 | 11.37 | 12 | 12 | |
| Freedom Front Plus | 7,970 | 4.55 | 0 | 7,771 | 4.41 | 5 | 5 | |
| Patriotic Alliance | 3,196 | 1.83 | 0 | 3,126 | 1.78 | 2 | 2 | |
| Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats | 2,821 | 1.61 | 0 | 2,220 | 1.26 | 2 | 2 | |
| African Independent Congress | 2,970 | 1.70 | 0 | 1,484 | 0.84 | 1 | 1 | |
| African Christian Democratic Party | 1,292 | 0.74 | 0 | 1,224 | 0.70 | 1 | 1 | |
| African Transformation Movement | 1,018 | 0.58 | 0 | 1,071 | 0.61 | 1 | 1 | |
| Independent candidates | 992 | 0.57 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 14 other parties | 2,555 | 1.46 | 0 | 3,583 | 2.04 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 175,077 | 100.00 | 51 | 176,026 | 100.00 | 50 | 101 | |
| Valid votes | 175,077 | 98.40 | 176,026 | 98.47 | ||||
| Invalid/blank votes | 2,850 | 1.60 | 2,736 | 1.53 | ||||
| Total votes | 177,927 | 100.00 | 178,762 | 100.00 | ||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 410,785 | 43.31 | 410,785 | 43.52 | ||||
Maladministration
editSince April 2022, the municipality is under administration, one of 32 in the country, and three in the Free State where the provincial executive has intervened due to maladministration.[7]
Mayors of Mangaung
editThe following people have served as the Executive Mayor of the municipality since its founding in 2000:
- Pappi Mokoena (ANC), 2001–2005[8]
- Eva Moiloa (acting) (ANC), 2005–2006[8]
- Gertrude Mothupi (ANC), 2006–2008[9]
- France Kosinyane "Playfair" Morule (ANC), 2008–2011[10]
- Thabo Manyoni (ANC), 2011–2016[11]
- Olly Mlamleli (ANC), 2016–2020[12]
- Lebohang Masoetsa (acting) (ANC), 2020–16 August 2021[13]
- Mxolisi Siyonzana (ANC), 16 August 2021–6 March 2023[14]
- Papi Mokoena (AASD), 14 April 2023 – 20 April 2023[15]
- Gregory Nthatisi (ANC), 13 October 2023 – present (acting since 26 April 2023)[16]
References
edit- ^ "Contact list: Executive Mayors". Government Communication & Information System. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Mangaung (Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa)". Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Statistics by place". Statistics South Africa. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ "Buffalo City, Mangaung categorised Metros". BuaNews. Government Communication and Information Service. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Lookup Tables - Statistics South Africa[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Mangaung Leading Party: Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality". Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Thorne, Seth. "South Africa's 32 most 'dysfunctional' municipalities". Businesstech. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ a b "ANC axes Bloem mayor". News24. Bloemfontein. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "Free State municipal mafia foiled". Mail & Guardian. 7 April 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "Premier Magashule and Mayor Morule to launch a Cleaning and Greening campaign in Mangaung". Government of South Africa. 12 April 2011.
- ^ "Mayors of the largest cities in South Africa". www.citymayors.com. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Gaeswe, Refilwe (19 August 2016). "Mlamleli ready to lead Mangaung". OFM. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Nkuyane, Lucky (14 August 2020). "Mlamleli officially out, interim mayor appointed". OFM. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ OFM. "Mangaung speaker finally announces mayor's resignation". OFM. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ Masungwini, Norman. "ANC interdicts new Mangaung mayor Papi Mokoena from assuming power". City Press. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ OFM. "Nthatisi elected as mayor of Mangaung Metro". OFM. Retrieved 2023-11-20.