The ANC emerged victorious in two local government by-elections held in Mpumalanga on Wednesday.
The ANC’s candidates won wards 18 and 31 in the Thembisile Hani local municipality, according to Kate Bapela, the spokesperson for the Independent Electoral Commission.
“In the by-elections held in Mpumalanga on Wednesday, the African National Congress retained two seats it won in the 2021 local government elections,” said Bapela.
According to Bapela, Sifiso Innocent Mabena and Nkosinathi Dingaan Mahlangu are the newly elected ANC council members in wards 18 and 31, respectively.
Mabena received 73.46% of the vote and won the Ward 18 by-election, according to Bapela, adding that the voter turnout during this by-election was 34%.
The ANC received 60.79% of the vote in the ward during the local government elections in 2021.
The MK Party, which received 15% of the vote and finished in second place, and the EFF, which received 9% of the vote and finished in third place, were the other political parties that ran in Wednesday’s Ward 18 by-elections.
The EFF received 17% in Ward 18 during the local government elections in 2021.
EFF votes on the decline
Bapela added that Mahlangu, an ANC candidate, received 69.85% of the vote in Ward 31, highlighting that the voter turnout for this by-election was 46.63%.
The ANC received 59.05% of the vote in the ward during the local government elections in 2021.
The MK Party received 16% of the vote and finished second, while the EFF received 11% of the vote and finished third; these were the other political parties that ran in Wednesday’s Ward 31 by-elections.
The EFF received 30% in Ward 18 during the local government elections in 2021.
The African Independent People’s Organisation received 2% of the vote on Wednesday, a decrease from the 4% it received in the local government elections of 2021, which placed it in fourth place.
Fifth place went to the South African Labour Party, which received 1% of the vote, while the Ingubo Party received 1% of the total, placing the organisation in sixth place.
