The party is hopeful that the appointment of the Democratic Alliance's Annette Combrink as mayor is invalid because she turned to her cellphone to accept the nomination.

The North West branch of the ANC is looking for legal loopholes in order to get its mayor reinstated in Tlokwe, the municipality that Potchefstrrom falls under.

The party is hopeful that the appointment of the Democratic Alliance's Annette Combrink as mayor is invalid because she turned to her cellphone to accept the nomination.

"She sent an sms to accept the nomination. According to the legal opinion, that does not stand," ANC mayoral committee member for economic development Lucky Tsagae told the newspaper.

He said that the party was waiting for a council meeting to be called by the speaker in order for the matter to be discussed.

In November, a motion of no confidence in ANC mayor Maphetle Maphetle was passed by warring factions in the party.

Combrink subsequently replaced him.

ANC provincial spokesman Kenny Morolong told Business Day that the provincial branch of the party would be "intensifying its resolve to reclaim " the municipality.

"The ANC will observe all legal process in the quest towards the reinstatement of comrade Maphetle Maphetle as the mayor of Tlokwe," he told the newspaper.