ANC, DA and EFF to fight it out in by-elections

TODAY the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) convenes two byelections in Buffalo City Metro where both the ANC and the DA will have to defend their wards.

Ward 18, which covers Vincent, Bunkers Hill, Nahoon Beach, Bonnie Doon and Woodleigh, has been governed by the DA which has over the years enjoyed more than 90% of the vote from the ward’s 9 000 residents.

The DA’s candidate, Jason McDowell, is a businessman and has been a member of the DA since the early 2000s.

BCM constituency leader Kevin Mileham said the DA was ready for victory.

“We have not fielded any candidate for ward 21. However, we are confident of a win in ward 18. The DA has been doing good work in the ward and the residents are seeing evidence of that work,” he said.

The ANC’s RW Rubusana regional head of elections, Sinethemba Mashalaba, said the party was confident it would open a new platform of engagement in ward 18, but was certain to retain ward 21.

He said ward 18 needed a different approach and their candidate, Andrew Sokolich, was the correct man for that project.

Sokolich is a Border Bodybuilding executive and businessman.

“The ANC has previously taken DA wards such as ward 3, and it is possible to take ward 18.

“We have put in a capable candidate whom we are confident will win the ward,” he said.

Ward 18 became vacant after councillor David Viaene resigned, while ward 21, which covers NU13 in Mdantsane, became vacant after the death of councillor Mlandeli Ngabeyana on March 7.

The EFF has fielded Luyanda Vetyeka to take on the ANC’s Mpumelelo Fini in the ward 21 contest.

Vetyeka told the Daily Dispatch it was time the people of Mdantsane got what they deserved.

“South Africa has come to accept the lack of service delivery so much so that election time is associated with service delivery protests.

“We want to come in and ensure that there is continued engagement with the residents,” Vetyeka said.