Lazarus Dithagiso

ZAMDELA. – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) hopes were dashed when they lost the by-election in Ward 12 to the African National Congress (ANC) last week.

The ANC retained the ward by a 492 votes. The Democratic Alliance obtained 64, EFFs 374, Metsimaholo Community Association 249, and Forum 4 Service Delivery with 354. African Independent Party and PAC obtained 16 votes respectively.

Both the EFF and the MCA had strong hopes to win the Ward.
The by-election comes after former ANC ward Councillor Welcome Khonto resigned from the party and stood as candidate for Forum 4 Service Delivery.

Before the official announcement of the counts, ANC supporters had already burst into song because the counts revealed that they were already in the lead. Khonto said they are not happy with the outcome of the results. “We have approached our lawyers to take legal action against IEC.”