KNYSNA NEWS - In the Independent Electoral Commission's results following yesterday's Ward 5 by-elections in Knysna, the Democratic Alliance has held onto the ward despite there being a strong challenge from two new independent parties.
The Ward 5 by-elections were held in Knysna yesterday, 21 August, as a means to fill the spot left in the Knysna Municipality Council by former mayor and Ward 5 councillor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies when she was elected into parliament.
The by-elections were contested by five candidates – Susan Campbell, Knysna Independent Movement (KIM); Carol Williams, African National Congress (ANC); Alberto Marbi, Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI); Hilton Stroebel, Democratic Alliance (DA); Anthony Norman Freeman, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
It was expected that KIM and PBI would pose strong opposition to the DA in the ward, but the men in blue managed to hold onto the ward by winning the by-elections with 40.52% of the votes.
This is a significant drop from the 2016 municipal elections, where the party had received 74.31% of the votes.
There was a 58.83% voter turnout for the by-elections with 2 367 votes cast.
The DA received 959 votes.
KIM received 583 votes, PBI received 511 votes, ANC received 307 votes, and the EFF received seven votes.
There is also the possibility of one of the opposition parties challenging the results, so the above-mentioned results are subject to change.
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