Candidates are Mahmood Akhalwaya of the ANC, Elsie Vermooten of the DA, Ntombizodwa Mthobeni of the EFF and 4. Tinus Van Der Merwe of the Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front.

The Independent Electoral Commission also announced nine other by-elections taking place in Gauteng, KZN, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.

In Mpumalanga Ward 12 in the Mkhondo Municipality is also up for grabs.

The ward will be contested by one independent candidate, Sphelo Mncube and three other candidates namely Muzi Romeo Qedusizi Mhlanga of the ANC, Siyabonga Sanele Archibald Mthethwa of the EFF and Siphiwe Khanyisile Mavimbela of the IFP.

The ward was previously represented by the ANC and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 44,48%.

The DA is hoping for a stronger turnout next Wednesday in Middelburg Ward 14.

Other elections, with battles expected in Gauteng and the Western Cape, include:

In Gauteng

· Ward 07 in the City of Johannesburg Municipality – JHB will be contested by one independent candidate, Amelia Ann Naude and eight political party candidates Luvuyo Kamba of ActionSA, Sipho Maxin Lukhele of the African National Congress (ANC), Mxolisi Vuma of Al Jama-Ah (ALJAMA), Theophilus Emanuel Louw of the Amalgamated Rainbow Movement (ATM), Randell Markgraaff of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Thabiso Godfrey Thuputlela of the Freedom Economic Fighters (EFF), Royston Wynston Williams of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Lois Cathleen Simonse of the Patriotic Alliance (PA). The ward was previously represented by the ANC and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 49,73%.

· Ward 83 in the City of Tshwane Municipality – TSH will be contested by seven candidates: Anastasia Elsie Ursula Sekole of the ANC, Andrew Lesch of the DA, Axole Lerato Nomqonde of the EFF, Eon De Koker of Republic Conference of Tshwane, Margaux Overbeek of the Organic Humanity Movement, Yusuf Cassim Young of the Organic Humanity Movement (OHM) and Llewellyn George Reinecke of the Vryheidsfront Plus (FFPlus). The ward was previously represented by the DA and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 59,80%.

In KwaZulu-Natal

· Ward 11 in the EThekwini Municipality – ETH, will be contested by six candidates Nabila Hoshe of the Africa Restoration Alliance, Nicholas Richard Johnson of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Muziwenkosi Ntombela of the ANC, Allan Eugene Peterson of the DA, Mfundo Mpumelelo Mcanyana of the EFF and Laurell Jones of the PA. The ward was previously represented by the DA and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 38,95%.

· Ward 05 in the iNkosi Langalibalele Municipality – KZN237, will be contested by one independent candidate Cyril Vusimzi Mkhize and five other candidates Daglous Sibusiso Shabalala of the ANC, Phakamani Vincent Mpembe of the EFF, George Delane Khanyile of the IFP and Richman Mbusokawufani Nyathi of the United Cultural Movement (UCM). The ward was previously represented by the IFP and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s membership being terminated by the party. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 54,50%.

· Ward 14 in the iNkosi Langalibalele Municipality – KZN237 will be contested by one independent candidate Mlwane Nqobizitha Magwaza and five other candidates including Saziso S’yabonga Shabalala of the ANC, Zamampembe Dladla of the EFF, Mesuli Lungisile Ndlovu of the IFP, Thandanani Herbet Sithebe of the Sizwe Ummah Nation and Zamani Derrick Zulu of the UCM. The ward was previously represented by the IFP and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s membership being terminated by the party. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 56,25%.

· Ward 21 in the iNkosi Langalibalele Municipality – KZN237 will be contested by four candidates Siphelele Mbatha of the ANC, Sibonga Quintin Mntabo of the EFF, Sandile Buthelezi of the IFP and Bongumusa Howard Mhlongo of the UCM. The ward was previously represented by the IFP and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s membership being terminated by the party. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 65,05%.

· Ward 29 in the Alfred Duma Municipality – KZN238 will be contested by one independent candidate Phasika Nsele and four other candidates Mxolisi Innocent Mkhonto of the ANC, Velaphi Madondo of the EFF, Bongani Nicholas Madondo of the IFP and Nkosiyazi Cyril Mkhize of the UCM. The ward was previously represented by the IFP and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s membership being terminated by the party. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 65,09%.

In Western Cape

· Ward 107 in the City of Cape Town Municipality – CPT will be contested by five candidates Buntu Gwija of the ANC, Debbie Arnelda Campbell of the Cape Independence Party, Jonathan Scott Mills of the DA, Cameron Michael Summers of the EFF and Khotso Lebakeng of The Organic Humanity Movement. The ward was previously represented by the DA and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 Municipal Elections was 55,04%.