The Commission’s North West Manager, Tumi Thiba, tells OFM News they anticipated a voter turnout of 25% and excitedly recorded a 25.4%. She says the ANC has retained the ward with approximately 86%, although the number is yet to be confirmed by the national office. OFM News previously reported that the Madibeng by-election was part of the 13 municipal ward by-elections that took place across the country on Wednesday following the death of the councillor.

The troubled municipality is amongst those that have for years made news over their service delivery issues with residents embarking on protests and the Auditor-General's reporting on how it still battles to manage its finances nor provide services to residents.

The Madibeng Municipality is also amongst the four infamous North West municipalities that have invested more than R314 million of taxpayers’ money with the now liquidated VBS Mutual Bank.

A report titled "The Great Bank Heist" by advocate Terry Motau has illustrated how billions were looted from the bank and how municipalities’ investments with the bank were contrary to the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA), as VBS Mutual Bank was not registered as a bank in terms of the Banks Act. It was found that the Madibeng Local Municipality invested R31 million of their conditional grant.

OFM News