Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Setsoto come from
Every fact on the Setsoto page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
On the council's website, no date shown: Setsoto's mayoral committee page lists Executive Mayor Seipati Justine Mbiwe (ANC). It lists these MMCs from the ANC: Koalane, Selasi, Mthimkhulu and Makae. It also lists Tommy Ancell (ATM) as an MMC. It also lists Speaker Pakalitha Isaac Mavaleliso (ANC).
Setsoto Local Municipality. Page is undated.
Where to look: 'Mayoral Committee' and 'Rules Committee' lists with party labels; undated, read 2026-10-18
As of 1 Jun 2026: Setsoto's final 2026/27 IDP is signed by Executive Mayor Seipati Mbiwe. It names Pakalitha Mavaleliso as speaker. It lists Mbiwe as an ANC proportional representation councillor elected on 1 November 2021. A PR councillor has a seat from the party's list, to match the party's share of the votes.
Setsoto Local Municipality. Published 1 June 2026.
Where to look: Executive Mayor's foreword signature, 'Political Governance' section, and councillor table row 1; date from the PDF's creation date, 1 June 2026
As of 1 Nov 2025: SJ Mbiwe was mayor of Setsoto Local Municipality in November 2025. The speaker was PI Mavaleliso.
Free State COGTA. Page is undated.
Where to look: Setsoto (FS 191) row: Mayor/Executive Mayor 'SJ Mbiwe', Speaker 'PI Mavaleliso'; header 'NOVEMBER 2025' (no day given)
As of 24 Jul 2025: Parliament made a list for Setsoto Local Municipality in July 2025. This was during a joint oversight visit (a visit to check on the council). It listed 'Executive Mayor - Cllr Mbiwe' and 'Speaker - Cllr Mavaleliso'.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Published 24 July 2025.
Where to look: 'Engagement with Setsoto Local Municipality' item
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 33 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 1 of 2 (page marker ambiguous), seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). African National Congress: 17 (14 ward, 3 party). Setsoto Service Delivery Forum: 7 (2 ward, 5 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 4 (1 ward, 3 party). Democratic Alliance: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Freedom Front Plus: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). African Transformation Movement: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 33 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Setsoto an unqualified audit opinion with findings for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
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