The DA has retained Ward 47 in Mangaung after a hotly contested by-election on Wednesday (29/11).

The by-election follows the resignation of DA Councillor Mokgadi Kganakga to join Rise Msanzi as its provincial coordinator. The party was launched in April under the leadership of Songezo Zibi, a former associate editor of the Financial Mail and former editor of Business Day.

Rize Msanzi did not field a candidate. The DA increased its share of the vote compared with the 2021 municipal elections from 44% to 50%. Voter turnout on Wednesday was 31.32%, said Free State IEC spokesperson Mmathabo Rasengane.

Jan-Rudolf (Rudie) Maartens is the new councillor after he received 1,475 votes, followed by the Patriotic Alliance, whose 25.58% share of the vote saw it replace the ANC as voters’ second choice, up from 10.67% in 2021. The ANC’s share dropped from 25.23% in 2021 to 17.03% this time round.

The EEF came fourth with 6.95% compared with 9,57% in 2021, while the Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats’ votes more than halved from 26 in 2021 to just twelve.

During the previous by-elections in Mangaung, the ANC retained all four wards that became vacant after the expulsion of eight ward councillors in March.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi Corné