ANC takes Ward 1 in fiercely contested by-election

THE ANC has snatched the highly contested Ward 1 from the PA during the by-election held in Roodepan and Platfontein on July 23.

Ward 1 was the focus of government programmes in the run-up to the by-election, while cleaning teams were hard at work in Roodepan throughout the week.

The seat became vacant after PA leader Gayton McKenzie fired Johan Loff during a live Facebook broadcast for “missing three council meetings”.

In his resignation letter, Loff indicated that his safety and that of his family were at risk, as he lacked the support from party leadership to deliver on service delivery promises.

He added that he realised it was pointless to remain in a position where he was “no longer wanted”.

A PA member congratulated the ANC on winning the ward on social media and remarked that Loff had been vindicated:

“The people believed in you and punished the PA after they betrayed you,” he said.

ANC candidate Rosie Ludick won the ward with 42.84% of the vote (1,414 votes), followed by the PA with 1,279 votes.

The DA received 532 votes, MK secured 51, and the EFF garnered 25 votes.

The ANC entered into a coalition with the GOOD party following the 2021 local government elections, as no political party secured an outright majority.

ANC Women’s League Frances Baard regional secretary Elaine Modise said the ANC would not necessarily remove the GOOD party as a coalition partner in council.

“We might still need each other,” she pointed out.

ANC members played a Facebook reel showing children in Platfontein crying after bicycles allegedly given to them by PA leader Gayton McKenzie were taken away.

They acknowledged the need to implement services that are often only prioritised during election campaigns.

PA member Liam Jacobs visited the city during the by-election, interacting with voters in self-taught Setswana and !Xun.

He stated that the PA had helped fix broken windows and was responsible for housing repairs in Platfontein after highlighting the poor living conditions on social media.

Former independent councillor Boitumelo Stout, who was part of a rebel group of ANC councillors that voted with opposition parties to remove former Sol Plaatje executive mayor Mangaliso Matika in 2018, said he had found a new political home with the MK Party.

“We are the new kids on the block,” he said.

DA caucus chairperson Elize Niemann said a complaint had been lodged with the IEC after voters from Ward 32 were allegedly brought to voting districts where they were not eligible to vote.

EFF members, meanwhile, mocked the PA over its deputy leader, Kenny Kunene, who was suspended after visiting the home of the suspected mastermind behind the murder of DJ Sumbody.

Kunene had explained that he happened to be at the home of Katiso “KT” Molefe at the time of his arrest on Sunday to facilitate an exclusive media interview.

IEC provincial manager Elkin Topkin said this was the third by-election held in Ward 1 since the 2021 municipal elections.

“There was a 56 percent voter turnout, where a great degree of political tolerance was experienced and no major incidents were reported. The Platfontein voting district alone recorded a 72 percent turnout. Counting was completed by midnight, as we made use of lead trainers to speed up the process,” said Topkin.

He added that two interpreters were stationed at Platfontein to assist any voters who experienced language barriers, as the ballots were printed in English.

“There were 41 spoilt votes in Platfontein, which can be attributed to literacy challenges.”  

Topkin noted that the DA had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support claims that voters from outside the district were allowed to cast ballots.

A by-election is scheduled to take place in Ward 4 of the Siyancuma Local Municipality on September 3, following the death of a councillor.