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Parties happy with Nquthu by-election - IEC

Nquthu - Political parties contesting the Nquthu by-election are satisfied with the electoral process, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said on Wednesday.

"The political parties that we've interacted with are satisfied that the process, thus far, is running smoothly," IEC vice-chair Terence Tselane told journalists at the Nquthu council chamber.

He said the IEC had staff at all 116 polling stations in the area.

"Our systems are in place, our logistics are in place and we managed to open on time today. There's nothing that makes us worried about this election," he said.

The by-election followed the disbandment of the municipality's council in February after it failed to elect its leaders following the August 3 local government elections.

READ: Calm voting in hotly contested Nquthu by-election - IEC

Peaceful vote

In that election the Inkatha Freedom Party won 15 seats, the African National Congress 14, the National Freedom Party two, and the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters one seat each.

Nquthu is the only municipality in the country without a mayor.

The by-election includes all 17 ward and 16 proportional representation (PR) council seats.

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A total of 359 candidates (238 ward and 121 PR candidates) representing 14 political parties are contesting the election. The parties include the ANC, IFP, NFP, EFF, DA, and Black First Land First.

There were 81 085 registered voters in Nquthu, the IEC said.

IFP spokesperson Joshua Mazibuko told News24 that they had not received reports of any incidents.

"For now, we can't say we're happy or not, but we have no complaints - apart from that we heard the ANC tried to bus in people from other areas," Mazibuko said.

DA KZN leader Zwakele Mncwango said the campaign leading up to the by-election was peaceful and there had been no cases of intolerance or intimidation. They would monitor the elections until polling stations closed at 19:00.

ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary Super Zuma said there was a shortage of ballot papers in some wards.

He rejected the IFP's claims about voters being bused in as propaganda. The IFP made the same allegations during its campaign last week, he said.

"Let's just allow the process to unfold and wait for the results of the election," he said.

The results will be announced on Thursday, the IEC said. KwaZulu-Natal police said nothing had been reported to them.

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