Six political parties will be going head to head to win the hotly contested ward 20 in Kwazakhele in Port Elizabeth.
The ward became vacant after ANC councillor, Bongo Nombiba, began serving his five-year jail term for fraud and money laundering in June after exhausting all avenues of appeal, including the Constitutional Court.
IEC regional spokesperson, Crosby Bacela, said when the deadline expired on Tuesday, six parties had registered to content the ward which could have implications later for the balance of power in Council.
Bacela said the contesting parties include the ANC, EFF, DA, ACDP, Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party, UDM and one independent candidate.
"What will happen is that the Commission will then have to qualify these candidates and then perhaps after 2 September we'll be able to issue their names," he said.
Some parties have already started campaigning in the area for the by-election on 18 September.
