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Southern Cape voters braved heavy rain and freezing temperatures and took to the polls without major incidents so far on Wednesday.
By-elections are taking place in 21 wards across the country including fiercely contested wards in Oudtshoorn and the Bitou Municipality where the ANC and the DA are going head to head in a battle for outright majority in council.
All eyes are on Oudtshoorn where three wards are being contested. The Karoo town has been plunged into chaos in the past few months following disagreements over the passing of the budget and Integrated Development Plan, sparking political unrest on an almost daily basis.
It was eventually decided to make use of the preliminary budget passed in March until after yesterday's (today) by-election.
The conflict eventually led to three ANC councillors crossing the floor, leaving the party in a position where it has to win all three wards to retain majority vote in council.
Despite the instability, both parties reported peaceful voting so far without major incidents.
Although voters were in high spirits in Plettenberg Bay's Ward 4, which includes the New Horizons and Kwanokuthula townships, polling started out slow due to freezing weather conditions.
During the last election two years ago DA candidate Elaine Paulse lost by a small margin - falling short by only 124 votes. Should the DA win this ward, the party will have outright majority in council.
Paulse is challenging incumbent ANC councillor Hilda Plaatjies.
Paulse and Plaatjies were both confident they would claim victory.
"We believe we have done enough, we have done our best. If we get the outright majority we can finally give the people what they need," Paulse said.
"I am very confident. This ward is still rife with unemployment, teen pregnancy, drugs and domestic abuse. I understand these issues and how to address the social ills. I think the people will respond to that," Plaatjies said.
The DA is expected to retain its majority in George, after categorically claiming victory over the ANC in another by-election in the town last month.
Results are expected to come through by late Wednesday evening.
