By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) lost its outright majority in the troubled Ditsobotla municipality in North West after an impressive surge by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Ditsobotla municipality is in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district in North West. Its principal town is Lichtenburg. The municipality also includes Coligny, the hometown of champion high jumper Hestrie Storbeck Cloete. Ngaka Modiri Molema also includes provincial capital Mahikeng, Zeerust and Delareyville.
The party only managed to garner 39 percent of the votes following Wednesday’s by-elections, down from the 51 percent it received after the November local government elections.
All 20 wards were being contested in the by-elections after the ANC-run council was dissolved by parliament in September this year due to massive breaches of non-compliance.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have gained more support as compared to the November polls, going from 15 percent of the votes in the municipality to 26 percent – cementing its place as the official opposition party.
- ANC won 16 seats – 15 wards and one PR seat;
- EFF won 10 seats – two wards and eight PR seats;
- DA won six seats – three wards and three PR seats;
- Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) won two PR seats;
- Patriotic Alliance won two PR seats;
- African Heart Congress won one PR seat;
- Save Ditsobotla Movement won one PR seat; and
- Vryheids Front Plus won one PR seat.
The election was held on Wednesday after the municipality dissolved on 14 September, following a decision by the provincial executive committee to place Ditsobotla under administration.
This, after two warring ANC mayors refused to give up power.
The result of this internal war was that service delivery ground to a halt – and it was also the most significant factor for the ANC losing so many voters. Speaking to the media in Lichtenburg, the seat of the municipality, the IEC’s North West commissioner, Tumelontle Thiba, said 41% of the 71 636 registered voters turned up for the by-election.
In a statement on Thursday, the IEC said it was pleased with the success of the vote.
A council meeting is expected to be convened during the course of next week.