Johannesburg – Sixteen wards will be contested in three provinces during municipal by-elections on Wednesday.

Fifty-two candidates representing nine political parties and five independent candidates would contest the by-elections, the Independent Electoral Commission said.

Fourteen by-elections would be held in the Eastern Cape.

Twelve of them were in the Mbhashe municipality (Dutywa) and became vacant when the councillors’ party membership was terminated. They were all previously represented by the ANC.

Eastern Cape ANC spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the councillors were removed after they decided to remove the mayor without the party’s “blessing” and without following the proper procedure.

A by-election would also be held in the Buffalo City Metropolitan municipality and the Elundini municipality (Mount Fletcher).

One by-election each would take place in Veereniging in Gauteng, and Vredendal in the Western Cape.

SAPA