By Luvuyo Mjekula
Campaigning for the upcoming Ward 10 by-election is underway earnestly in Makhanda as political parties seek to fill the position left vacant after the passing of ANC councillor Zodwa Cetu last month.
Grocott’s Mail understands the by-election is scheduled for 26 November.
ANC and DA teams have been out and about in Makhanda in recent days, conducting door-to-door campaigning in Fingo Village, Tantyi and other areas in the ward.
The parties have also been active on social media.
On its Facebook page, the DA in Makana stated: “Our teams (councillors and aspirant candidates) were out in Fingo and Scotch Farm, going door-to-door, and we ended the day with a soup kitchen in Tantyi. Residents are reminded about the upcoming by-election on 26 November 2025.”
DA caucus leader Luvuyo Sizani says their campaign programme started on A Street in Fingo Village, and they would be going street by street. “We are really on the ground with our activists and the candidates for this by-election,” Sizani said. Their next stops would include Victoria Road, I Street and other areas in the ward.
He said the response from the voters was “very positive”. “But you know we can’t rely on that. It’s not enough — you have to see the actual results at the end of the day, but people are very positive.”
The party planned to have its selection panel sitting to select the candidate. “We have five candidates. And then tomorrow (Thursday), we will know exactly which candidate we will be able to put up on the poll for Ward 10.”
The party’s provincial leader would join the local team next week, Sizani said, and engagements with voters would continue. “We are still trying to ensure that we do all that is necessary for us to be able to make a dent in that ward. If you look at the statistics for the 2021 elections, we didn’t do that well.”
Sizani said the DA had only 19 votes, which equated to about 1.6%. “The current target is 12%, which equates to 230 votes, but we are looking at possibly increasing the target to 320 votes. So, we need to reach that target — that’s the work we need to do. If we manage to get that, that will be a huge boost for the image of the DA, especially in the [Black African] areas.”
Meanwhile, at an ANC meeting at the BB Zondani Community Hall in Fingo Village on Sunday, party members elected four candidates who will go head-to-head to determine which one will stand for the party at next month’s by-election.
The four — Tiny Foley, Lelethu Gagayi, Andile Mbeju and Luyanda Sakata — have been involved in campaigning over the past few days.
They were introduced to residents in the three voting districts in the ward, at AFM Church on Z Street, BB Zondani Hall, and Nathaniel Nyaluza High School on A Street.
Voting to determine the final ANC candidate for the councillor position is expected to take place this weekend.
After the by-election next month, the elected councillor will fill the gap until the next council is voted in after the 2026 local government election.
