Results of the highly contested Ward 10 in Mtubatuba in northern KwaZulu-Natal are still pending.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is reportedly leading by 5 votes over the African National Congress (ANC). However, seven more votes are yet to be verified before being counted, they were cast by people whose addresses are not clear whether they fall within the Ward.
The Ward is a decider over which party between the ANC and the IFP will control the municipality.
Mtubatuba municipality is currently run by the ANC after some IFP councillors colluded with the party to topple the IFP Mayor.
By-election 2020 | Mtubatuba council results pending
Meanwhile, preliminary by-election results in the province show that the IFP retained three wards previously under the party’s control, it also won a Ward in Nkandla previously under the ANC.
The ANC won four Wards, three in eThekwini municipality and one in the uMvoti municipality. The Democratic Alliance (DA) won three Wards in eThekwini, Ray Nkonyeni and uMsunduzi municipalities.
The elections were held in 12 Wards across nine municipalities.
IEC Deputy Chief, Masego Sheburi gives progress update on by-elections:
IEC satisfied with by-election proceedings across SA
The IEC in Gauteng says that despite disruptions at two voting stations in Naledi, Soweto, it has been smooth sailing in the by-elections everywhere else in the province.
The IEC has expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the by-elections have proceeded so far across the country. Polls are scheduled to close at 9pm with the IEC saying it is expecting a steady stream of people to vote after the close of business.
The by-elections come ahead of the Local Government Election scheduled for later in 2021.
Voting in the by-elections has been taking place in 95 municipal wards with over 600 000 voters registered.
Deputy CEO of the IEC Masego Shiburi says COVID-19 measures have been put in place at voting stations.
“COVID-19 measures that we put in place at the voting stations and when we did home visits to obviate the spread of the disease, they worked very well despite the rain. We were able to extend the right of franchise to those persons who voted by special vote because they were unable to come to a voting station because of physical conditions. Today, we opened all our stations in the morning in time except in very isolated instances where we travelled and we are extending the right of franchise to 600 00 people who are registered in the 95 Wards.”
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