Ward 17 in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality was decided by a coin toss, with former councillor and South African Communist Party (SACP) candidate Marumo Sekgwele making his way back to council.

A video of the coin toss has gone viral, even racking up views overseas, after the ANC and SACP tied with 966 each in the ward spanning Newtown.

The ANC’s Sarah Selahle faced off against Sekgwele, while Floreins Phatlane of the EFF (318 votes) and Johannes Mapheto of the DA (296 votes) ended the race in third and fourth position, respectively.

In 2021, Sekgwele also won the ward under the ANC and served on the mayoral committee under Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela.

The coin toss was done at the provincial IEC results and operations centre in White River on Saturday, November 7, and was covered by the Observer’s sister paper, Lowvelder.

Parties divide council seats

Sekgwele is the only SACP candidate who made it to council, alongside Rev Thomas Mpye, another returning councillor under Hendrina United Community Development. The Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front (MHRF), United Africans Transformation and Amalgamated Steve Tshwete each scored one seat.

Mpye was an independently elected councillor during the previous term, while the MHRF lost six seats.
The FF+ returns to council with three seats, while uMkhonto weSizwe took five seats from the EFF, who are returning to council with four seats.

The Service Delivery Party, ActionSA and Hope of Residents (HOPE) each received two seats, with former ANC mayor Mike Masina returning to council on HOPE’s ticket.