The African National Congress is taking its dispute over the Emfuleni Ward 28 by-election result to the Electoral Court, citing a questionable voters’ roll, according to party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. The Democratic Alliance won the ward in May by eight votes, securing what it described as its first 100% township ward victory before the political fallout reached the courts.
ANC Challenges Emfuleni Ward 28 By-Election Result
Speaking to journalists at a press briefing at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Mbalula confirmed that the governing party filed the case in early June. The legal challenge targets the integrity of the voter registration list used during the May contest. “Where an election is not run on a lawful and reliable voters’ roll, the ANC will defend the vote of the people through the court,” Mbalula told reporters. He questioned the validity of the register, asking how 100 people could be registered to vote from a single house, and maintained that the challenge is not sour grapes but a matter of upholding the law.
Did You Know? Following the narrow eight-vote defeat in May, the ANC recalled its then-mayor, Sipho Radebe, as the fallout from the fiercely contested township ward election rippled through local structures.
Democratic Alliance Defends Ballot Victory
The Democratic Alliance strongly defended the election outcome, urging its political rival to accept the decision of the electorate. Kingsol Chabalala, the Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate for Emfuleni, responded to the litigation by emphasizing that residents made a clear democratic choice at the ballot box. “The people of Ward 28 in Emfuleni have spoken, and their democratic choice must be respected,” Chabalala said, adding that the victory was earned by residents who chose change.
Chabalala argued that the court challenge reflects a party struggling to accept the will of the people rather than addressing its loss of public confidence. Furthermore, he stated that the ANC must prepare for additional losses in townships when South Africans head to the polls on 4 November, asserting that the outcome signals a growing demand from township communities for accountable leadership and better service delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ANC challenging the Emfuleni Ward 28 by-election?
The ANC is challenging the result because it alleges the voters’ roll was questionable and could not be lawfully placed in that ward.
When did the Democratic Alliance win the ward?
The Democratic Alliance won the ward in May by eight votes, marking what it described as its first 100% township ward victory.
Where was the legal case filed and announced?
According to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, the party took its case to the Electoral Court after opening the matter in early June, and announced the step during a press briefing at the party’s Johannesburg headquarters on Tuesday.
What impact might this Electoral Court challenge have on voter confidence ahead of the upcoming 4 November elections?