OSIZWENI – A victory for slain elected candidate Thembi Mbongo and the ANC in Ward 6 has not secured the area for the ruling party, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
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IEC Regional Supervisor, Nonhlanhla Mbonani said the results would be declared to the municipality with all the names of the victorious ward candidates.
The name of Thembi Mbongo will also be declared to the municipality. Thereafter, the municipality would put out a vacancy for the position, which was to be occupied by Mbongo.
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“It is the people in that ward who voted for Mbongo, so we have to give the people an option again to choose their preferred candidate in the ward; someone they trust,” explained Mbonani.
A by-election will have to be held in order for the residents of Ward 6 to democratically elect a replacement for Mbongo.
All political parties contesting the ward will put forward names of candidates who can be selected by residents come the by-election time.
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