Wednesday will be another important date in regard to this year’s provincial elections, as 18 municipal ward by-elections will be conducted in KZN and the Western Cape.

On the day, the same day when the presidential inauguration will take place in Pretoria, 84 political party
candidates from 15 political parties, as well as four independent candidates, will contest these elections.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced the wards that will be contested, along with the reasons for the by-elections in the respective wards:

KZN

Five wards in the uMzumbe Municipality – KZN213 were previously represented by the ANC and became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Here are the candidates:

• Ward 1: Dunford Khulekani Msomi of the ANC, Ntombifuthi Bella Msomi of the African People’s Movement, Zibuyile Zamekile Cele of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), Msawakhe Jeffrey Khuzwayo of the EFF, Ntombenhle Pretty Ntombela of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and Thulo David Mkhungo of the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party.
• Ward 2: Angel Gugu Caluza of the ANC, Nhlanhla Richard Cele of the EFF, Phumzile Qwabe of the IFP, and Sihle Royal Hadebe of MK.
• Ward 3: Thabiso Felix Ngwazi of the ANC, Bongumusa Cyril Mtolo of the EFF, Bhekambambo Germanus Mkhize of the IFP, and Mduduzi Cyril Lushaba of MK.
• Ward 9: Pretty-girl Nombuso Mjwara of the ANC, Mbongeni Erick Gumede of the EFF, Sabelo Zuke of the IFP, Zandile Happiness Mlotshwa of the National Freedom Party (NFP), and Protas Ayanda Duma of MK.
• Ward 19: Innocent Zwelibanzi Mqadi of the African Economic Freedom (AEF), Maxwell Bhekumuzi Khoza of the ANC, Mthulezwa Peace-Maker Hlongwane of the EFF, Sizwile Michael Zuma of the IFP, Thabani Nhlanhla Nzoyi of the NFP, and Thuthukani Treasure Jeza of MK.

Ward 11 in the municipality, which was left vacant after the ANC terminated the councillor’s membership, will be contested by Dudu Princess Madiba of the AEF, Yvonne Lindiwe Duma of the ANC, Psychology Sikhosiphi Sibisi of the ATM, Phillemon Joshua Kuzwayo of the EFF, Bangumuzi Walter Gumede of the IFP, and Sbonelo Mcdonald Maphumulo of the MK.

Other wards in the province where councillors resigned:

• Ward 10 in the uMvoti Municipality – KZN245, previously represented by the ABC, will be contested by Lesley Sifiso Nzuza of the Abantu Batho Congress (ABC), Mlungisi Petros Sithole of the ANC, Nhlakanipho Makhunga of the EFF, and Sihle Bhengu of the IFP.
• Ward 5 in the Newcastle Municipality – KZN252, previously represented by the ANC, will be contested by Elizabeth Nomvula Mqwa of the ANC, Muziwensizwa Stanley of the DA, Minenhle Ndlela of the EFF, and Sipho Kenneth Masuku of the IFP.
• Ward 15 in the uPhongolo Municipality – KZN262, previously represented by the IFP, will be contested by Innocent Siyabonga Nxumalo of the ANC, Qhubekani Shadrack Thabethe of the EFF, Lindelani Stuart Ntshangase of the IFP, Sithabiso Mahlambi of the NFP, and Makhula Zenist Malinga of the MK.
• Ward 10 in the Mthonjaneni Municipality – KZN285, previously represented by the ANC, will be contested by Muziwethemba Gideon Madonsela of the ANC, Lwandile Queeneth Hlongwane of the EFF, Mtuseni Emmanuel Ntenga of the IFP, Bhekicebo Nhlakanipho Mtshali of the NFP, and Bonga Innocent Thabethe of the MK.

Two wards will be contested because of the councillors’ deaths.

• Ward 11 in the Nongoma Municipality – KZN265, previously represented by the IFP, will be contested by Muziwamandla Bekobala Ndwandwe of the ANC, Phumzile Perseverance Nkosi of the EFF, Bonisiwe Cebisile Mvelase of the IFP, Sipho Agrippa Dlamini of the NFP, and Vusumuzi Richard Nkosi of the MK.
• Ward 1 in the uMzimkhulu Municipality – KZN435, previously represented by the ANC, will be contested by Mzolisi Godfrey Hlongwana of the ANC, Mbuso Cosmas Shezi of the EFF, Foreman Mvuyisi Mtolo of the IFP, and Asanda Kabelo Mokoena of the MK.

Western Cape

Six wards in the province will be contested after they were left vacant because its councillors resigned. Here are the candidates:

• Ward 64 in the City of Cape Town Municipality – CPT (previously represented by the DA): Paul Anthony Davids of the ANC, Izabel Sherry of the DA, and Tougheeda Jacobs of the EFF.
• Ward 105 in the City of Cape Town Municipality – CPT (previously represented by the DA): Nosiyabonga Laetitia Moya of the ANC, Francois Berry of the DA, and Unathi Madinga of the EFF.
• Ward 113 in the City of Cape Town Municipality – CPT (previously represented by the DA): Garth Armstrong of the Africa Restoration Alliance (ARA), Thando Andrew Masabalala of the ANC, Susan Iris van der Linde of the DA, and Thobeka Victoria Pikini of the EFF.
• Ward 1 in the Beaufort West Municipality – WC053 (previously represented by the ANC): Independent candidate Ralph Skuza and political party candidates Sipho Melvin Pieterse of the ANC, October Haarvoor of the DA, Mlawuli Aaron Hamza of the EFF, and Isak Goeieman of the Karoo Democratic Force.
• Ward 3 in the Beaufort West Municipality – WC053 (previously represented by the PA): Independent candidates Martin Dassie and Sharon Dolores Gouws, as well as political party candidates Ebeneazer Francois Botha of the ARA, Gerrit Ricardo Bailey of the ANC, Georgina Juliana Duimpies of the DA, Ivan Clive Graaff of the EFF, Elrico Jacobs of the Movement of the People, and Ronel Jessica Martins of the PA.
• Ward 6 in the Beaufort West Municipality – WC053 (previously represented by the PA): Independent candidate Juanita Jubeida Rabie and political party candidates Colin Lottering of the ANC, Elvico Links of the DA, Eveline Ilsa Louw of the EFF, Hendrik Truman Prince of the MP, Dennis James Matroos of the PA, and Garret October of the People’s Movement for Change.