By-elections to be held in six provinces

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Published Feb 18, 2014

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Johannesburg - Municipal by-elections will be held in six provinces on Wednesday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.

Ten wards would be contested by 37 candidates, representing 13 political parties and four independent candidates, the IEC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Four of the councillors died, three resigned, and three were expelled by their parties.

There would be three by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal. Ward 48 in eThekwini (Durban metro) municipality was previously held by the Democratic Alliance and became vacant when the councillor resigned.

The African National Congress, the DA, the Inkatha Freedom Party, Minority Front and the National Freedom Party would contest the ward.

In the same municipality, Ward 49 was held by the DA and became vacant when the councillor resigned. The same parties contesting Ward 48 were standing for this ward's by-election.

In the Hibiscus Coast (Port Shepstone) municipality, Ward 12

would be contested by independent candidate Alexander James Skene, the ANC, the DA and Inkatha Freedom Party. This ward's DA councillor died.

In Limpopo, Ward Nine of the Lephalale (Ellisras) municipality was represented by the ANC until the councillor died. The ward would be contested by the ANC and Congress of the People.

Mpumalanga's Ward 12 of the Thaba Chweu (Sabie) municipality would be contested by the ANC and the DA. The ward became vacant when the DA councillor resigned.

In the North West, Ward 21 in the Greater Taung (Reivilo) municipality was being contested by the ANC and the United Christian Democratic Party. The previous ANC councillor died.

In the Northern Cape, Ward Two of Kgatelopele (Danielskuil) municipality would be contested by the ANC and the DA. The ANC councillor died.

Three by-elections were scheduled in the Western Cape. Cape Town's Ward 35 would be contested by independent candidate Boyisile Mafilika, the ANC, the African National Party and the DA. The ward became vacant when the ANC councillor was expelled from the council.

The Cape Argus reported the incumbent was found guilty of “compromising the integrity of a councillor” for allegedly selling RDP houses irregularly.

Also in Cape Town, Ward 43 would be contested by independent candidates Cecil Solomons and Mario Patrick Oostendurp, the African Christian Democratic Party, the ANC, the African People’s Convention, Al Jama-ah, the DA, the National Party SA, and the SA People for Equality.

The ward became vacant when the DA councillor's membership was terminated. The Cape Argus reported she was expelled after a disciplinary committee found her guilty of bringing a councillor’s name into disrepute.

In the Saldanha Bay (West Coast Peninsula) municipality, Ward Nine would be contested by the ANC and DA. It became vacant when the councillor, an independent candidate, was expelled from the council. The Weslander reported in December that Sipho Masina was expelled for missing a number of council meetings without offering an apology.

There were 87 957 voters registered in the 10 wards and 53 voting districts where the by-elections would take place. Voting stations would be open from 7am to 9pm on Wednesday.

Sapa

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