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Murdered councillor replaced after by-election results

Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

A Limpopo municipality has finally elected a new ward councillor to replace his predecessor, who had been murdered.

The mood was electrifying and jubilant on Wednesday when Independent Electoral Commission officials announced Thompson Nkuna, of the ANC, as the winner of the by-election in Ba-Phalaborwa and the new Ward 4 councillor in the municipality.

Nkuna, 39, romped home against candidates from the Ximoko Progressive Party, the UDM, the ACDP and an independent candidate in the by-election.

Nkuna received 780 votes followed by the independent candidate with 246 votes.

The results in 12 other local government by-elections in the Eastern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape were also announced on Wednesday.

The ANC won 11 of the by-elections while the DA won a by-election in the Western Cape. All the by-elections were held within 90-days of the notice of termination of service or the death of ward councillors.

Nkuna succeeds Cindy Mpangani, who is alleged to have been stabbed to death by her husband.

Mpangani was stabbed in the chest and stomach, and was rushed to Maphutha Malatji Hospital. She was later transferred to the Polokwane provincial hospital, where she died five days later.

Mpangani's husband handed himself over to the police a few days after the incident. He was denied bail when he appeared in the Lulekani magistrates' court facing a charge of murder.

David Maake, the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality speaker, said in welcoming Nkuna that the municipality had confidence in him and believed that he would add value to the council's service delivery in the area.

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