/ 23 May 2013

IFP narrowly takes ANC ward seat in Mpumalanga by-election

The Inkhata Freedom Party won a ward seat from the ruling party in Albert Luthuli
The Inkhata Freedom Party won a ward seat from the ruling party in Albert Luthuli

The Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP) won a ward seat from the ruling party in Albert Luthuli (Elukwatini/Carolina) municipality, Independent Electoral Commission results showed on Thursday.

IFP candidate Thembinkosi William Zulu took 393 votes against ANC candidate Manqoba Ardson Malaza's 343 in the by-election on Wednesday.

The by-election was held to replace an ANC councillor who had resigned. The percentage poll was 56.91%, and there were seven spoilt ballots.

In Nama Khoi (Springbok), in the Northern Cape, ANC candidate Hendrik Selodis Apollis won 1431 votes to oust Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate Dawid Marthinus Coetzee, with only 1 023 votes, who failed to keep the seat for the party after the previous councillor resigned.

Of the 3 417 registered voters, 72.26% cast their ballots.

In the Western Cape town of George, the 4 215 registered voters in Ward Six had six candidates to choose from.

The DA's Hendrik Hermanus Ingo took the seat with 1 329 votes against the ANC's 575 votes, the Independent Civic Organisation of SA's (Icosa) 422, and independents Marius Korsten 77, and Sedric James Smart 35. The turnout was 60.66%.

The ward had previously been held by a DA councillor who died.

Resignation of a councillor
In the City of Cape Town, the DA's Justin Adriaan Basson retained Ward 105 for the party with 6 017 votes. ANC candidate Nosiyabonga Laetitia Ntondini received 1 245 votes.

The percentage poll was 38.99%, and there were 45 spoilt ballots.

In Ward Six Thaba Chweu (Sabie), in Mpumulanga, the ANC's Paul Bodutu Mokgosinyane won 741 votes against independent candidate Agripa Agostina Mndawe's 92. Only 27.45% of the 3 108 registered voters voted to replace a councillor who had resigned.

Ward Two in Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal, was also vacant because of the resignation of a councillor.

The ANC candidate Kwenzakufani Melchior Dlamini won the by-election with 1 607 votes from the IFP's Thulani Hezock Zuma with 409, and the National Freedom Party's Zamokwakhe Jackson Radebe with 174, in a 51.31% poll.

Another by-election in Jozini was cancelled due to possible irregularities with voter registration.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal was pleased with its victory in Impendle.

"It is interesting to note that the ANC takes all by-elections at the time when some political parties claim they will take control of KwaZulu-Natal from the ANC during the upcoming general election," said ANC provincial spokesperson Senzo Mkhize.

"We want to tell them that figures and statistics don't lie," he said. – Sapa