The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has won Ward 15 in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCM) after a recount overturned an initial decision by an IEC presiding officer to declare the party’s votes spoilt.
The party had initially lost the ward after its votes were allegedly declared spoilt at the counting station.
The EFF immediately lodged an objection with the national IEC, demanding a recount and a review of the ballot papers.
Following the recount, the EFF was declared the winner of Ward 15, increasing its total number of wards won nationally in the 2026 Local Government Elections from 37 to 38.
The victory is a significant boost for the EFF in the Eastern Cape, where Buffalo City has been among the country’s closely contested metropolitan municipalities, with no party securing an outright majority.
The party has hailed the victory as proof that the objection process works and that its party agents must remain vigilant during the counting process.
“The EFF has emerged victorious in Ward 15 in BCM after the IEC presiding officer took the EFF votes and declared them spoilt. The EFF raised an objection with the national IEC. Following a recount, the EFF has now won the ward, bringing the number of wards won by the EFF from 37 to 38,” the party said in a brief statement on its X account.
The IEC has not yet publicly commented on the conduct of the presiding officer in question.
The result will now be factored into the final seat allocation for Buffalo City Metro Council, where no party has secured an outright majority.
Meanwhile, the ANC previously lost two wards following coin tosses: one to ActionSA in Limpopo’s Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality and another to the SACP in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.
Read more: https://newsnote.co.za/actionsa-beats-anc-in-coin-toss-to-win-limpopo-ward/