The latest preliminary results show that the ANC has retained power in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West, following yesterday’s by-elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said the party won 15 of the 20 wards.
Releasing the preliminary results in Lichtenburg, IEC’s head in the North West, Dr Tumeloentle Thiba said the council will have eight parties.
“ANC had won 15 wards and one Proportional Representation (PR) seat. The DA won three wards and PR seats. The EFF won two wards and eight PR seats. The F4SD and the Patriotic Alliance won two PR seats. And the African Heart Congress and the Save the Ditsobotla Movement and the FFPlus won a seat each. So in total there are 39 seats,” Thiba said.
She said the overall turnout for the by-elections was 42%.
“The overall turnout for the by-elections was 3 243 voters from the 71 914 registered, which is 42%. So we went over our expectations by almost 15%, because we had expected up to 25% and we got 42%, which is 12% difference,” she said.
Fifteen political parties and two independent candidates were contesting for the 20 wards across the Ditsobotla local municipality, following the disbandment of the improvised municipality by the North West provincial government after months of instability.
Poor voter turnout at yesterday’s elections has been blamed on poor service delivery where residents are forced to queue for water instead of casting their ballots.
Yesterday voting stations were quiet as locals fetch water from street taps that are often dry because residents say it comes at intervals and they simply hop from one tap to the other and had no time to vote.
Boikhutso Township resident John Mere said getting water is a struggle that requires patience and time.
“I was already close to the tap in line for my turn. Now the water has stopped. So now I have to look for another tap. How am I gonna be able to vote,” Mere asked?.
Thabo Mokgokologa is in the same boat and complained that there is no running water in their households and the communities have to spend time next to communal water taps.
“Water is not coming out in our households. It only comes out on intervals on taps on the streets. As you can see that it’s no longer coming out of this tap. It means we have to go check if it comes out from other taps.
“We are going to spend the whole day going up and down looking for water. When are we going to get time for voting,” asked Mokgokologa.
The water shortages affect mothers more as Kelebogile Motlharo, who had to leave her sick children to get water can attest.
“My child is very sick. But I had to leave her and get water before taking her to the clinic, because I don’t know if I’ll find water when we come from the clinic. Her condition is serious. Yet here I am running looking for water.
“So how am I going to be able to keep queuing for water at different taps, and also go to vote? I’m not going to vote,” she said.
Fifteen political parties and two independent candidates contested in the by-elections that were triggered by the dissolution of the council that came into office after the 2021 local government elections.
