BCM by-election fight on in ward
IEC approves change after councillor out
THE battle is on for Buffalo City Metro’s (BCM) Ward 27 as a by-election has been declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to take place in November.
The by-election follows the axing of former councillor Bhelekazi Mabandla in July by the ANC, after she failed to attend council meetings, with the last one she attended being in August last year.
She had been in the spotlight since it emerged last year that she was “incorrectly registered” as a ward candidate leading up to last year’s local government elections.
Her party ordered her to resign last year, but at the time, BCM claimed they did not receive any resignation letter from her.
The metro paid her a full salary until February, although she was no longer doing council work.
The ward – which includes Mzamomhle, Gonubie North and West, Quenera and Quenera North – is now up for grabs, with political parties such as the ANC, DA and EFF already campaigning for the November 2 poll.
The IEC’s Pearl Ngoza yesterday said the commission approved the change of the by-election date from November 1 to November 2, after the Municipal Political Liaison Committee (MPLC) members cited various challenges on having an election on payday.
The Daily Dispatch understands that Vuyisile Thabiso Hokisi is the candidate who has been nominated to represent the ANC in the upcoming elections.
The DA has put its trust in Vusi “Batista” Jako, while the EFF’s “fighter” is Buyani “JVC” Mqadaru.
ANC acting regional secretary Gura Maleki said he did not want to focus on their candidate but rather on the ANC’s campaign.
“This was an ANC-controlled ward, the party has a support base there. We will be reactivating that support.
“The branch has already started with the groundwork but as soon as the provincial conference is over, we as the regional leadership will support the campaign fully,” he said.
DA councillor in BCM, Marion Mackley, is managing the party’s campaign in the ward. She said the DAwas optimistic Jako would win over voters.
The EFF’s regional coordinator Loyiso Mangisa said: “Mqadaru resides in the Mzamomhle area, he is a businessman from that community and is wellknown.
“He . . . was nominated by the residents as he works really well with the community.”
There are 8 234 registered voters in the ward.
Ngoza said the November voting would take place at Gonubie’s Mzamomhle Community Hall, the Old Apostolic Church, Pet Haven tent, Riegerton Park tent and Mzamowethu Public School. — mamelag@dispatch.