Johannesburg - Over 76 000 people are registered to vote during by-elections in 61 voting districts on Wednesday, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said.
“A total of 76 582 voters are registered in the 61 voting districts where by-elections will be taking place,” spokeswoman Kate Bapela said in a statement on Tuesday.
Municipal ward by-elections would take place in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and Western Cape on Wednesday.
Twelve wards would be contested by 31 candidates, representing eight political parties and three independent candidates. Three wards would be uncontested.
In the Eastern Cape, four by-elections are scheduled to take place with one being uncontested.
Ward 4 in Mbhashe (Idutywa) municipality would be contested by the African National Congress and United Democratic Movement. The ward became vacant when the ANC councillor died.
Ward 19 in the Nkonkobe (Alice) municipality was uncontested and the ANC's Liziwe Faith Matyolo the only candidate. The previous councillor died.
Wards 42 and 46 in the Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) municipality were also being contested.
In KwaZulu-Natal, ward 12 in the Umzumbe municipality and Ward 16 in the Newcastle municipality were being contested.
Limpopo would have two by-elections, Ward 29 in the Thulamela (Thohoyandou) municipality would be contested by independent candidates Azwifarwi Justice Ratshibvumo and Rudzani Edward Mmbulaheni, the ANC, and Congress of the People. The previous ANC councillor died.
Ward 3 in the Bela-Bela municipality would be contested by the ANC and the Congress of the People after the ANC councillor resigned.
In Mpumalanga Ward 8 in the Dr JS Moroka (Mdutjana) municipality would be contested by the ANC, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, and the Progressive Party. The previous ANC councillor died.
In the North West, Ward 19 in Moses Kotane (Mogwase) municipality was uncontested. The only candidate was Harry Kgothatso Kodongo of the ANC. The previous ANC councillor resigned.
In the Western Cape, Cape Town's Ward 23 would be contested by the ANC and Democratic Alliance. The previous DA councillor had his party membership terminated. Ward 16 in the Drakenstein (Paarl) municipality would be uncontested.
Voting stations were expected to open from 7am to 9pm.
Sapa