Tiyani - Voting stations in Tiyani in ward 3 of Limpopo’s new municipality, LIM 345, opened on schedule at 7am on Wednesday, ready to handle hundreds of voters registered to cast their ballots in today’s municipal by-elections.
The ward is being contested by Ntsako Lauward Ngobeni of the African National Congress (ANC), Mkateko Isaac Mdaka of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and an independent candidate, Ntsako Samuel Baloyi.
The ANC won the ward in the August 3 local government elections, but it became vacant as a result of the death of councillor, Mkhacani Phineas Maluleke, also known as Nwa Beku.
When SAnews arrived at one of the voting stations in Tiyani just before 7am, more than 500 potential voters, mainly elderly people, were already queuing to vote at the tribal council.
Speaking to SAnews after voting, gogo Elisa Tsakani Ngobeni said: “I am so excited that I have voted to bring about development in our village.
“As residents, we are ready to work with our new ward councillor to move our village forward. We … hope that the new councillor will solve the challenge of water in our area. We also need tarred roads.”
Another by-election is underway in ward 10 in Polokwane Municipality and it is contested by Tlou John Matlou of the ANC, Jonas Evans Mothapo of the EFF and Andries Matidi Makhafola of the Forum 4 Service Delivery.
The ward was previously represented by the ANC and became vacant as a result of the resignation of the councillor.
Fifteen municipal ward by-elections will take place in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape tomorrow.
The by-elections are being contested by 66 candidates representing 16 political parties and two independent candidates. Voting will take place at voting stations in the relevant wards from 7am to 9pm.
Voting hours for Mbhashe Municipality Ward 17 as well as Port St Johns Municipality Ward 7 in the Eastern Cape by-elections will be from 7am to 7pm. - SAnews.gov.za
