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Johannesburg - A former Nelson Mandela Bay municipality ANC ward councillor lost his bid to halt a by-election when the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth ruled against him, the party said on Wednesday.
"Yesterday the Port Elizabeth High Court dismissed with costs an application seeking an order to stop the by-election in Ward 42 by the former ward councillor," African National Congress spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.
The party expelled him after he refused to resign as a councillor. Kodwa hoped the ruling sent a stern message to ANC members on the importance of discipline.
The by-election in Ward 42 is one of 12 taking place around the country on Wednesday. At total of 76 582 people are registered to vote in by-elections in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and Western Cape.
Twelve wards are being contested by 31 candidates, representing eight political parties and three independent candidates. Three wards are uncontested.
Kodwa encouraged voters to exercise their democratic right.
"The right to vote is a hard won right by the people of South Africa and we call upon all eligible voters to come out in their numbers to exercise this right in vigilant defence of our democratic order," he said.
Kodwa said voting for councillors was important as they were the public representatives closest to the people.
The by-elections were due to the councillors having their party membership cancelled, resignations, or dying.
The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) was not immediately available to comment on the by-elections.
