Central SA
ANC wins all four wards in Mangaung Metro by-election─── LUCKY NKUYANE 08:44 Thu, 20 Jul 2023
The ANC has retained all four wards which were contested by over four different political parties during the by-election in Mangaung Metro Municipality in the Free State.
On Wednesday 19 July 2023, thousands of Mangaung residents in the Free State headed to the polls to vote in four municipal by-elections.
The IEC Free State spokesperson, Mmathaba Rasengane, said the ANC retained all four wards, which included Ward 29 in Botshabelo, Ward 7 in Bloemfontein, Ward 49 in Thaba Nchu, and Ward 50 in Wepener. ANC candidate Clement Sehloho won Ward 7 with 54%, Elias Matsepe won Ward 29 with 56%, the new councillor for Ward 49 is Julia Lekhwele, after winning the ward with 41%, and Ward 50 was won by Nicolas Monare with 63%.
All these councillors are ANC ward councillors.
The by-elections in four wards in the metro followed the expulsion of eight ward councillors in March 2023.
The EFF, ANC, DA, Active African Christians United Movement (AACUM), the Progress Party, the IFP, the new Lentswe La Batho (LLB) party, and the United Christian Democratic Party (UCDP) contested the election, along with several independent candidates.
Rasengane said close to 30 000 people from the four wards were registered voters. On Tuesday (18/7) elderly people and those who qualify for special votes cast their votes.
The metro is currently without a mayor, with the ANC’s Gregory Nthatisi elected as acting mayor in April.
