Gontse Molotsi is the new ANC ward 12 councillor after clinching 1551 votes from the 1761 votes cast on Wednesday’s municipal by-elections.
EFF candidate, John Pule Moelane received 143 votes. Timoti Eddie Phakisa, an independent candidate received 50 votes.
According to Kate Bapela, the IEC’s spokesperson, ANC retained the seat it won in the 2016 municipal elections, with 88.93 per cent of the votes cast compared to 82.66 per cent in the 2016 municipal elections. The voter turnout yesterday was 54.89 per cent,” she said.
The by-elections in this ward followed the death of the councillor, Duduetsang Modise on 23 February, after a short illness. Modise won ward 12 in the 2016 municipal elections after obtaining 82, 66 per cent of the valid votes. After his passing, the ANC was reduced to 33 seats in the J.B. Marks city council, compared to the 33 seats of all the opposition combined.
Molotsi’s decisive victory indicates that the ANC will have the majority seats (34) in the J.B Marks city council.
