By Lindsay Dentlinger
The battle lines were clearly drawn between the DA and ID in Mitchells Plain this morning as the parties jostled for maximum campaigning space outside voting stations at the start of a crucial by-election in the suburb's ward 79.
The by-election is being contested by seven parties - the well-established parties, newcomer Cope and a group of lesser-known smaller parties.
However, voters trickled into the voting stations in Beacon Valley and political parties said they only expected the pace to pick up in the late afternoon.
Meanwhile Cope was conspicuously absent from four of the polling stations visited by the Cape Argus and, besides the DA, ANC and ID, only the Cape Party was distributing campaign material.
At the Beacon Valley Community Centre the ID had wanted to set up stands on both sides of the entrance gate, but after an exchange of words, they agreed to allow the DA space.
The DA is hoping to wrest ward 79 - comprising the suburbs of Eastridge, Portlands and Beacon Valley - from the ID, who lost the seat in January when its representative Dennis Williams resigned from the party.
Williams is representing the DA in today's election. He narrowly won the ward with 66 votes in the 2006 local government elections, followed by the DA candidate.
DA leader, mayor Helen Zille, took to the streets of Mitchells Plain on Tuesday to canvass for support for the DA to take full control over the area.
- Read the full story in The Argus.