Residents of Ward 27 head to polls in by-election
HUNDREDS of residents turned up at voting stations in Buffalo City Metro’s Ward 27 yesterday to cast their ballot for a new councillor.
The by-election for the ward, which includes Mzamomhle, Gonubie West, Gonubie North and Quenera North, started yesterday with 520 special voters visiting the polls. Tomorrow, voting opens for the rest of the ward.
Nomfundiso Gowa, who was among the first to cast her vote at the Mzamomhle community hall, said it was unfortunate that it took so long for the people of Mzamomhle to go to the polls to correct what the ANC did.
“It’s so sad what you see in this township – the amount of corruption, lack of services, total disregard for our safety. We have lost so many people through illegal connections that can never be eradicated if they do not provide electricity for the people of Mzamomhle,” said Gowa.
The ward has been without a councillor since the local government elections last year.
The ANC instructed councillor Bhelekazi Mabandla to resign last August but she only did so a year later. The party, which won the ward with 55% of the votes, will have to defend the ward from three other parties: the Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and United Front.
There have been divisions over who should be fielded as candidates in the run-up to the elections.
Some residents wanted Vuyisile Hokisi to stand as the ANC candidate while Calata House believes Boy-Boy Kalane, who appears on the ballot for the ANC, is the right man. The day had a shaky start for the ANC as none of their party agents were inside the venue when voting started. ANC party agents stood outside the hall yesterday claiming their branch executive committee (BEC) had failed to submit the necessary forms to the IEC to allow them to be part of the process. Party agents were eventually allowed in at the voting stations after midday.
Lindelwa Maninjwa, an ANC party agent, told the Dispatch that she has been standing outside the venue since 7am yesterday but none of her party leaders had been seen on site to hand over forms in order for them to start with their work.
“This movement is a disgrace. Its infighting has reached a whole new level,” said Maninjwa.
However, ANC regional secretary Mkhawuleli Maleki said all was well within the party and that they had found each other.