The fight for Buffalo City Metro’s two vacant wards had a smooth start yesterday, with both the ANC and the DA doing some last-minute campaigning.
The Eastern Cape will hold four municipal by-elections this month. The two conducted yesterday were in ward 18 in the Vincent and Selborne area and ward 21, which covers Mdantsane’s NU12 and 13.
These by-elections were as a result of the resignation of DA ward 18 councillor David Viaene, while in ward 21, the position has been vacant since the death of ANC ward councillor Mlandeli Ngabayena in March.
The electoral commission’s provincial head, Khayakazi Magudumana, said the second leg of the by-elections would take place on June 20 and would involve Cacadu’s (Lady Frere) Emalahleni ward 6 and ward 9 in Ingquza Hill municipality.
In BCM’s ward 18, held by the DA, the party roped in its most senior members, which included members of parliament and members of the legislature, to support their candidate, Jason McDowell. The DA’s BCM constituency leader, Kevin Mileham, said although the DA enjoyed the majority in the ward, the party took the by-election very seriously.
People started trickling into the Kingsway tennis court in Vincent – one of three voting stations in the ward – as early as 7am.
“Don’t take any election for granted. We are going all out to win. Our teams are committed and ready to assist the voters. We have a great candidate too,” said Mileham.
In ward 21 the ANC opted to defend its ward by putting Mpumelelo Fini up against the EFF’s Luyanda Vetyeka, who hopes to make this the EFF’s first ward in Buffalo City.
If Vetyeka persuades a majority in NU12, NU13, Mdantsane West and Riverside to place their faith in him, the party will have another reason to celebrate when the “fighters” descend on Mdantsane to mark the party’s fifth anniversary next month.
Vetyeka, 31, who grew up in this ward, told the Daily Dispatch it was time the people of Mdantsane got what they deserved. He said it had become the norm for residents to only voice their concerns during elections, even though there were people in place to hear their grievances as they happened.
“South Africa has come to accept a lack of service delivery, so much so that election time is associated with service delivery protests. We want to ensure that there is continued engagement with the residents.”
However, the ANC is confident it will retain the ward.
The results are likely to be known by the end of the week...