ANC claims back ward 33 in by-election
The ANC has claimed back ward 33 after the party secured 54,9% and 1,428 votes, resulting in Zodwa Marawu becoming the new councillor of the ward.
The DA attained 38.29% from the 996, followed by the EFF’s 3.11% and 81, which was almost overtaken by Action SA at 3.4% from 79 votes.
The UDM managed 0.65% from the 17 votes it received.
The voting poll of the by-election stood at 62.89%.
In the previous election, the party had lost the ward to the late Independent candidate Ntombekhaya Kortman after community members had requested a rerun. But Kortman died in recent months.
Ahead of the by-election, in its efforts to campaign for votes, ANC chair Oscar Mabuyane arranged an RDP house for residents who had lost their home in a natural disaster.
They had also offered to assist one of the residents of the ward with R20,000 to conduct the burial of a family member who committed suicide, which prevented the funeral policy company from paying out.
ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula was joined by national executive committee member Enoch Godongwana on the party's last campaign on Sunday.
Mbalula began his visit with a doorto-door campaign, and advised ANC members to remain in the party and not join other parties.
He urged Marawu not to change her address when she was elected by residents, saying they should be able to access her whenever she is needed.
“When you are having issues in the council, give feedback about what that problem is. This is because as leaders we disappear after we are appointed and return in the next election.
“We must be stable and solve issues while we are walking with them. This is the most important role we should play as a party.”
Mbalula said the ANC was alive in Chris Hani and in the province, and he was pleased with members of the party for not abandoning it in favour of emerging parties that made promises they would not deliver to the people.
“The party is led by Ramaphosa nationally and Mabuyane in the province; we have to also support them in the region as well. As Marawa gets in she must also know that she is under the leadership authority.”
He said in some cases the ANC won a council, but after being voted for, some comrades did as they wished in council without even consulting the leadership for advice.
Mbalula said the ANC was turning a new chapter where reckless behavior was concerned.
People who come with knives to disrupt meetings would be removed, he said.
“This is the people’s party; we have to protect it. I have seen that the comrades have given Ramaphosa support even if you did not give it to me; I do not have a problem with that.
“We must protect the president, with whom we have no problem.
“Matamela has not done anything to us; but he is being disrespected even by people he seats within the cabinet.
“We must protect him, because he is our leader. If you want to destroy a party you start with its leader.”
Godongwana said he was pleased with regional deputy chair Madoda Papiyana for admitting to the people that the ANC leadership had done wrong.
He said it was important to acknowledge this before party members, as most people did not like to admit their wrongs.
“I was in Fontier Hospital and a nurse said there is a cancer department that should be operating in Frontier, which they could not because there was a staff shortage.”
He said the nurse informed him the hospital needed 150 nurses and that the government had provided for the amount for nurses to be employed.
“When a person is sitting at home doing nothing, they do not bother anyone. Dogs bark at a car that is moving; everyone is swearing at the ANC because the ANC works,” Godongwane said.