21 parties hoping to emerge victorious in fiercely contested Thabazimbi by-elections

THABAZIMBI - Twenty-one political parties in Thabazimbi are hoping to emerge victorious in a fierce by-election in Limpopo.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is expected to announce the results on Thursday, after thousands of residents cast their votes on Wednesday.

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Political parties deployed a wide range of resources ahead of the by-election, all aiming to secure control of the mineral-rich municipality.

The election was triggered by the dissolution of the council due to political conflicts that disrupted service delivery.

In the 2021 local government elections, the African National Congress (ANC) failed to secure an outright majority in Thabazimbi, obtaining only 47% of the vote.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), which received just 15%, managed to take control of the municipality through a coalition with several other political parties.

However, a Thabazimbi resident voiced her dissatisfaction with coalition governments, saying she wants only one party to govern at a time.

"I have got my trust in the party I voted for, because when you have a problem, the party jumps to help you, no matter if it’s water, electricity, refuse removal, or potholes."

While 21 parties contested the by-election, only 24 seats are up for grabs in the municipal council.