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- The ANC believes it will win the Ditsobotla Local Municipality by-election.
- The municipality was dissolved in September because warring ANC factions could not decide who would lead.
- The municipality fell into disrepair as part leaders clashed over the mayoral chain.
The ANC is confident it will win the highly
contested Ditsobotla Local Municipality by-election.
On Wednesday, as the heavens opened up over the North West town, local party leaders and those helping their constituencies from neighbouring provinces made their way around the 90-odd voting stations.
The municipality was dissolved in September after a year of little to no service delivery because warring factions within the ANC were too busy fighting over the mayorship to ensure the district had water, electricity, or any other services.
The municipality was led by both Tsholofelo Moreo and Tebogo Buthelezi.
This after the council removed Buthelezi in December 2020 by a vote of no confidence, voting Moreo in as the new mayor.
Buthelezi then appealed the decision in court and was reinstated. But he was removed again by the ANC caucus through another motion of no confidence, and Moreo was reinstated.
READ | Silent plight: No room at the inn as voters flock to Lichtenburg for heated Ditsobotla by-election
On Wednesday, there was a large police contingent in Lichtenburg, the seat of the local municipality, including members of the Tactical Response Team, K9 units, Public Order Police and more than 100 traffic police centred around the area.
The show of force was due to a recent brawl in the town where it is alleged security for the rival ANC leadership came to blows. Locals claimed shots were fired in the scuffle.
The service delivery issues in Lichtenburg were evident as political factions took cover from the rain at the local Spur franchise - one of the few sources of electricity.
Despite the rain, political parties have set up outside the Lichtenburg community hall for the by-election on Wednesday.
Lichtenburg park is awash with the political colours of various parties contesting the by-elections, As seen through the Koos de la Rey equestrian statue.
Roads have long ago been stripped of tar, and even the local municipality takes water from farmers who have boreholes.
Contesting the election is the ACDP's Simon Lehloo, who said issues faced by the municipality were due to a lack of service delivery.
"We have two mayors from one party - that's an issue. The water table is high, but we have no water."
Lehloo added the ACDP would be willing to stand with like-minded parties if it came down to forming a coalition to keep the ANC from leading the municipality.
"We are a Christian party deploying God-fearing men and women to stand for clean governance.
"Over the last two years, we have seen our support grow [in Ditsobotla], and we believe we are now a strong party [in the area]. We are willing to stand with like-minded parties with leaders of integrity. Leaders like those in the DA and the FF+, who have experience running their wards."
ANC candidate Louis Meyer said unity was the biggest issue in the municipality.
"Every politician speaks about potholes etc., but that's rubbish. Everyone needs to work together for the leadership [of Ditsobotla].
"Of course, the ANC will win outright [51% and over].
"Parties blame the ANC for the [infrastructure issues], but they also worked here when these things happened. Our message is, let's unite behind the leadership of the country."
Adi Schlebusch, standing for the FF Plus, said the party would be open to a coalition to keep the ANC out of power.
"We have entered fruitful coalitions elsewhere in the country. It all depends on who is in the coalition. We won't go into a coalition with the EFF.
"But I'm looking forward to increasingly seeing coalition governments. It's the politics of the future."
Schlebusch added the party had expected a low voter turnout on Wednesday as by-elections traditionally did not pull the numbers a national election would.
"The turnout so far is low. A lot has to do with the holidays. Many farms in the area have already harvested, and staff is on leave."
FF Plus MP Fanie du Toit said during the municipality's dual leadership, suppliers and others hired to service the area were unsure how to proceed.
The Jacobus de la Rey equestrian statue outside the Lichtenburg community hall in the North West Province. The Boer War general is buried in Lichtenburg.
"There were two council meetings: one a [faction of the ANC] and another with the ANC, EFF alliance. So, there was confusion on a grand level as to whose orders needed to be taken. You would have one side employ a contractor for a job that is already done and [this helped] deplete the funds."
Du Toit added towns like Lichtenburg were at the centre of large, dispersed communities, and it was essential for them to have services to serve those communities.
"Load shedding, for example, despite the rolling blackouts, this area will still suffer its own blackouts, so there is seldom power.
"The big job creators in the area have moved or are planning to move because there is no infrastructure for them to operate. [Lichtenburg] has lots of accommodation because of its proximity to Mahikeng [the North West capital city], but the closures have a knock-on effect on these businesses."
He said service delivery protests were a constant and protesters would spill out onto the busy N14, which connected the area to Mahikeng.
Du Toit added he believed the ANC declined to step in over the Ditsobotla internal battle because it needed support during the party's national conference on 16 December.
The EFF's Ofentse Gabauakogosi said the party would struggle to get a huge turnout in Lichtenburg, but it had a big following in surrounding areas.
He was confident the party would win at least six wards.
DA Limpopo MP Desiree van der Walt said the dissolving of the municipality gave voters a "golden opportunity" to take it away from the ANC.
Voting will continue until 21:00 on Wednesday, with the results expected early on Thursday morning.
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