The by-election for the Abaqulusi municipality's ward 22 could not be held due to an Electoral Court order, said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Thursday.
KwaZulu-Natal IEC spokesperson Mawethu Mosery said the court, sitting in Durban, granted an order on Tuesday evening allowing Andre Lotter – a former ANC canditate in the Vryheid ward – to run as an independent candidate.
In a statement released by the ANC in the province, the party said the court ordered KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance provincial minister Nomusa Dube and the IEC to allow Lotter to be registered as a candidate.
Spokesperson Bongani Mthembu said the court also ordered the IEC to look into alleged fraud involving the voters' roll.
IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the commission was looking into the issues raised.
Mthembu said: "Based on the support the ANC received during campaigns for the by-election, we have no doubt that we would have won the by-election if it was not postponed."
The party believed the postponement would afford the party an opportunity to consolidate its support.
'By-elections are going on well'
"Lotter has tried his best to remain a councillor after the ANC accepted his resignation because he was failing to serve the people," Mthembu said.
By-elections in other municipal wards were running smoothly on Wednesday, Bapela said.
Residents of 19 wards across eight provinces were casting their votes, with no reports of misconduct.
"In general the by-elections are going on well. As the IEC we will be happy if the turn-out is high because South Africans should choose their leaders. We hope South Africans use this opportunity."
Bapela said the voting stations would be open until 9pm on Wednesday. She encouraged people to vote. She said the stations opened at 7am and thanked officials for their patience.
Initially 55 candidates from 12 political parties and six independent candidates were expected to contest the 20 wards.
A total of 105 393 voters were registered in the wards and the 112 voting districts where the by-elections would take place.
DA bags Mbombela wards
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) won two wards in Mbombela in the municipal by-elections, the party said on Wednesday.
Werner le Grange and Trudie Grove-Morgan would be the councillors for wards 17, which covers Nelspruit and Steiltes, and ward 30, which covers White River, said DA provincial leader Anthony Benadie.
The number of votes had increased from the previous elections in which the DA had won.
Ward 17 had increased by 6.3% to reach an 86% vote. Ward 30 had increased by 11% to reach 78.3%, the party stated.
Earlier on Wednesday, IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the elections were going well in 19 wards across eight provinces. – Sapa