Six municipal by-elections are to be held in South Africa on January 22, four in African National Congress strongholds, one in an Inkatha Freedom Party stronghold and another in a more marginal seat vacated by a Democratic Alliance councillor.
The by-election in Ward 40 in Tshwane (Pretoria area) in Gauteng comes in the wake of the resignation of Democratic Alliance councillor Peter Peach. He achieved 56.6% of the vote (4 977 votes) in the municipal election in 2000 to the ANC’s 37%.
Whether its former alliance partner, the New National Party, will stand in the area will add to the possibility that the ANC could snatch the seat. It is the only seat likely to change hands in the set of by-elections.
Independent Electoral Commission representative Lydia Young said that nominations for the six seats would be lodged on Friday.
At Nketoane (previously Reitz) in the Free State, the ANC looks set to easily retain ward eight where its councillor Lilian Keswa died forcing a by-election. She obtained 77,3% of the vote (959 votes) in the December 2000 elections against the Pan Africanist Congress which gained just 17.1%.
At Maluti-a Phofung (Qwa Qwa) in the Free State, the ANC councillor Dingane Cindi resigned. He achieved 85,5% of the vote (1 667 votes) in 2000 — indicating that the ANC is likely to retain the seat.
In Johannesburg’s ward 60, ANC councillor Pauline Masilo died. She gained 72,9% of the vote or 1 283 votes in 2000 against the DA’s 15,2% (268).
Owing to the death of the IFP councillor Bekisisa Buthelezi at Umlalazi (Eshowe), a by-election will be fought in ward three which the IFP won with 85,5% of the vote in 2000. The ANC achieved just 12,1% indicating that the IFP is likely to retain the seat in the by-election.
In Rustenburg (North West) ward 16, the ANC’s councillor Richard Tause died. He obtained 79,1% in the 2000 election to the United Christian Democratic Party’s 13,8% indicating that the ANC is likely to easily hold on to the seat. – I-Net Bridge