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The by-elections would have been the last ahead of the scheduled 27 October local government elections.
Some 6 000 people from both the Platfontein and Roodepan areas near Kimberley are expected to cast their votes in the by-election for Ward 1 in the Sol Plaatje municipality on Wednesday.
The election was called after a Patriotic Alliance councilor resigned.
The Sol Plaatje Municipality remains a hung council and is currently being governed by a coalition between the African National Congress and the Good Party.
Residents of both Roodepan and Platfontein have made their way to their respective voting stations to cast their votes.
The IEC in the province says it is expecting a high voter turnout.
“This is actually the third by-election since the 2021 local government elections. We have had the reasons that all three by-elections are mainly resignations. The turnout during the past two by-elections was quite high, between 50 and 60% and our expectations for this current one are that it will be around the percentage that we’ve had during the last two by-elections,” says Elkin Topkin, IEC Provincial Manager for Elections.
Those who cast their votes say they do not want lip service only from political parties.
“I want to see change in Roodepan, most of the children are young and they don’t work, they are unemployed,” says Petro Mantwer, Roodepan resident.
“Changes I would like to see happen in Roodepan is employment for the youth, service delivery, and honesty with the political parties because I don’t see any changes. We are struggling with water, electricity here in Roodepan. Our youth is unemployed. Unemployment is a problem here,” says Violet Louw, Roodepan resident.
“I want all these parties to do better in Platfontein when we vote for them. They must not only promise us but the go back to their places. We want to see change in Platfontein,” says Martha Ngongo, a Platfontein resident.
Five political parties are participating in the by-election, and the results are expected after midnight.
