Sickness, political killings force by-elections in KZN
Political parties and the Electoral Commission in KwaZulu-Natal are gearing up for another round of by-elections. File Picture: Jacques Naude/ANA Political parties and the Electoral Commission in KwaZulu-Natal are gearing up for another round of by-elections. File Picture: Jacques Naude/ANA
DURBAN - Political parties and the Electoral Commission in KwaZulu-Natal are gearing up for another round of by-elections after four positions became vacant following the deaths of ANC councillors.
One of the three deaths appeared to be a political killing, while two of the deceased councillors fell ill. The cause of death for a fourth councillor who has died is unknown at this stage.
In ward 2 in the Richmond Municipality, the position became vacant after unknown gunmen shot and killed councillor Sifiso Mkhize in June.
Sicelo Ngubo of the ANC, Philani Chiya of the EFF and Nontando Latha of the IFP will contest the position previously held by Mkhize. The voter turnout for this ward in the 2016 municipal elections was 56.79% and the ANC candidate won the ward with 86.70% of valid votes. The by-elections will be held on October 18.
In ward 10 in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, in Port Shepstone, by-elections have been called following Andile Mkhize's death. He had been ill before he passed. The ward will be contested by David Mqadi of the ANC, Nkosingiphile Mkhize of the EFF, Dick Eric Luthuli of the IFP and the NFP’s Gamalakhe Mpisana.
“The voter turnout for this ward in the 2016 municipal elections was 58.51% and the ANC candidate won the ward with 87.71% of valid votes,” said the IEC in a statement.
In the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality on the South Coast near Margate, a by-election has been called for ward 28 after councillor Mzwandile Mncube died in July after being ill. The elections will be contested by the ANC’s Lawrence Sibusiso Vanda, Mpumelelo Mbono of the EFF; and Thulani Osborn Thutshini of the IFP.
The voter turnout for this ward in the 2016 municipal elections was 65.30% and the ANC candidate won the ward with 94.82% of valid votes, said the IEC.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission’s spokeswoman Kate Bapela urged eligible voters to go register for the by-elections scheduled on November 19 in Umlalazi Municipality, in Eshowe.
She said the ward 10 seat “became vacant as a result of the death of the councillor. The ward was won by the ANC in the 2016 municipal elections and turnout was 59.85.%”.
The name of the councillor and cause of death could not immediately be verified.