By-election could swing balance of power in Emfuleni
The outcome of the by-election in Ward 16 of the Emfuleni Local Municipality could swing the balance of power in the Emfuleni Local Municipality.
VEREENIGING. – Residents of Ward 16 of the Emfuleni Local Muncipality (which includes Rust ter Vaal, Ramaphosa Settlement, Redan, Waldrift and Arcon Park) take to the poles today to vote in a by-election.
The position of ward councillor was left vacant following the passing of Councillor, Madoda ‘Tata’ Mkhumbeni (ANC), who died in November last year, following a short illness.
Voting stations opened at 07:00 and will remain open until 21:00.
This highly contested ward has changed hands from the DA to the ANC in a by-election in 2020.
The establishment of the informal settlement known as Ramaphosa has changed the demographics in the ward after residents were granted protection from evictions by COVID regulations.
The loss of one seat in council could, however, bring the ruling ANC to 44 seats.
This could affect the dynamics in the local municipality.
“The will mean that they (the ANC) will not be able to muscle through their budgets and the employment of their chosen candidates,” a member of an opposition party told Vaalweekblad.
Despite this voting has been slow and it seems as if a lot of potential voters have stayed away from the polls.
The DA, VF+ and ACDP currently hold 31 seats jointly and the EFF 14.
This by-election could take the number of seats held by the former opposition parties to 32 and the EFF to 14.
There are six candidates in the running which includes Taliyana Zinyana (ANC), Grace Damon (DA), Nomdibaniso Catherine Wilson (EFF), Victor Renatial Taks (PA), Jonas Radebe (NO_ABBR) and the little-known Isaac Mzobe (TRUTH).
After the polls close at 21:00, votes will be counted.
The results are expected at around 02:00 this morning.
