ANC in charge of 535 wards in Limpopo
The African National Congress won most municipalities in Limpopo in last week’s Local Government Election, including that of Polokwane.
LIMPOPO – Of the 566 wards contested, the ANC won 535 wards.
The official results were announced by Limpopo electoral officer Nkaro Mateta at the Limpopo IEC Results Centre, Peter Mokaba Sports Complex on Sunday, 7 August.
Even though the ANC lost about 10% (69.3% support down from 80.3%) of its support compared with 2011 the party won all wards in nine of the 22 provincial municipalities with a total number of 854 seats in the province.
ANC won all the wards in the following municipalities: Makhuduthamaga, Greater Giyani, Greater Letaba, Musina, Thulamela, Blouberg, Molemole, Lepelle-Nkumpi and the Fetakgomo/Greater Tubatse.
The Economic Freedom Fighters won three wards: two in Thabazimbi and one in Seshego. The party secured 209 seats.
The DA won 24 wards and 103 seats, which constitutes 8.09% (6,54% in 2011).
The independents won 3 wards and the Civic Warriors won one ward in Maruleng.
She further added that of 2,566 million voters registered only 50,4% of the registered votes cast their votes in the election on 3 August.
“We are worried that half of the registered voters did not vote and as the IEC we need to find the reasons why this is so.”
At 24 hours after voting stations closed, eight of the 22 municipalities had captured and declared their results.
Spoiled ballots:
Of the 1,14 million votes cast, 19 645 were spoiled – the most being in Polokwane where 5 060 votes were spoiled.
2 591 votes in total spoiled for ward ballots and 2 541 for PR ballots.
Objections:
Six political parties namely the ANC, EFF, ACDP, UDM, Cope, APSP had objections and wanted elections to be rerun in some wards.
Outstanding cases relating to the elections are being investigated by the police relating to elections.
The IEC will within the next 14 days set appointments with local municipalities to elect the 153 or 60% of the indirectly elected councillors to name the 245 district councillors in the province she concluded.
