According to spokesperson, Kate Bapela, the African National Congress (ANC) won 16 seats overall compared to 19 seats it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) won 11 seats (12 in 2016), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) won 8 seats (8 in 2016), and the South African Communist Party (SACP) won 3 seats (it did not contest alone in 2016).

One seat each was won by the African Independent Congress (did not contest in 2016), the Forum for Service Delivery (did not contest in 2016) the Metsimaholo Community Association (2 seats in 2016), and the Vryheidsfront Plus (1 seat in 2016).

"The Metsimaholo by-election included all ward and PR seats for the council following the dissolution of the council," says Bapela.

A total of 21 wards and 21 PR seats (total 42) were contested.

Bapela further elaborated upon objections raised in Metsimaholo, which included that some voters in one voting district in ward 1 had erroneously been provided with ballot papers from a different ward (ward 19).

"When the matter came to the attention of the Commission on election day, the ballot boxes affected were immediately sealed and quarantined and the correct ballot was then used for the remainder of the day using different ballot boxes," explains Bapela.

She further state that a meeting held last night (Thursday) by the Commission resolved that the quarantined ballot boxes should be opened in the presence of party agents and all valid ballots extracted – including all PR ballots (which were not affected as the PR ballots are uniform for the entire municipality) and correctly issued ward 1 ballots.

"The remaining incorrectly issued ballots for Ward 19 – numbering about 200 – were re-quarantined and excluded from the count. The decision of the Commission was communicated to all parties at a meeting of the Municipal Party Liaison Committee today (Friday) whereafter the quarantined ballot boxes were opened and the valid ballots extracted and counted," concluded Bapela.

New ward councillors elected:

ANC:

Malitaba Patricia Mokoena in Ward 1. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections, but with a decreased margin of votes from 65.73% in 2016 to 39.50%. Voter turnout was 32.89%.

Joseph Morena Molawa in Ward 2. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections, but with a decrease in margin to 58.77% as compared to 69.9% of the votes cast in the 2016 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout was 43.46%.

Miriam Mathithi Telane in Ward 3. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin to 35.33% compared to 54.77% of the votes cast in the 2016 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout was 52.44%.

Gabaikitsi Beauty Nnune in Ward 4. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 69.86% to 44.36%.  Voter turnout was 43.66%.

Sky Simon Kobo in Ward 5. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 60.41% to 58.19%. Voter turnout was 57.43%.

Mahadi Nkheloane in Ward 6. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 56.17% to 44.14%. Voter turnout was 45.89%.

Portia Mabatho Mahlaela in Ward 7. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decreased margin from 61.47% to 37.29%. Voter turnout was 43.60%.

Seatle Jack Nteso in Ward 8. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 65.95% to 49.90%. Voter turnout was 53.38%.

Nelson Nhatu Dywili in Ward 9. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 61.11% to 45.81%. Voter turnout was 44.45%.

Nokuthula Mirriam Mtshali in Ward 10. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 52.31% to 40.51%. Voter turnout was 52.28%.

Kenneth Thabo Mabasa in Ward 11. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decreased margin from 54.21% to 45.94%. Voter turnout was 47.39%.

Lebohang Andries Makhefu in Ward 12. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decreased margin from 51.89% to 46.52%. Voter turnout was 48.49%.

Fikile Daniel Mosokweni in Ward 13. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 63.51% to 44.67%. Voter turnout was 40.74%.

Alexis Khomoliileng Mare in Ward 19. The party retained the seat it won in 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 56.83 to 42.33%.  Voter turnout was 36.05%.

Lucas Fisher in Ward 20. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decreased margin from 44.15% to 38.56%. Voter turnout was 46.88%.

Ntombizodwa Prudence Mokoena in Ward 21. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 61.99% to 42.82%.  Voter turnout was 46.77%.

DA:

Francois Jacobus Van der Merwe in Ward 14. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 78.88% to 74.35%. Voter turnout was 62.18%.

Jacobus Johannes Grobbelaar in Ward 15. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a reduced margin from 74.40% to 69.75%. Voter turnout was 45.01%.

Jan Jacobus Barnard in Ward 16. The party retained the seat it won in 2016 Municipal Elections with a decrease in margin from 84.75% to 81.62%. Voter turnout was 54.93%.

Georg Sebastiaan Burger in Ward 17. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections with a decreased margin from 54.02% to 50.07%. Voter turnout was 40.95%.

Luigi Gaigher in Ward 18. The party retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections marginally increasing its margin from 82.06% to 82.63%. Voter turnout was 48.46%.

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