It’s alleged that 12 ANC councillors colluded with the EFF and DA, among others, to vote for the DA's candidate for Speaker, Maryke Davies, instead of the ANC's speaker candidate, Lawrence Mathae.<.
She defeated ANC speaker candidate and Mangaung Regional Chairperson Lawrance Mathae. Davies received 53 votes against 43 of Mathae. A total of 96 council members took part in the vote at the counc.