EFF Free State
By Thabo Mosia
Clocolan, Free State – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have won Ward 8 in Clocolan, Setsoto Local Municipality, Thabo Mofutsanyane Region, Free State. The by-election took place on Wednesday, marking a noteworthy victory for the EFF in an area previously dominated by other parties.
Election Results
The by-election results are as follows:
• EFF: 1,207 votes (54.69%)
• ANC: 709 votes
• COPE: 7 votes
• ACT: 29 votes
• SSDF: 204 votes
• IFP: 51 votesThis victory means that the ward will now be led by EFF Councillor Lebohang Mokoakoe, signalling a major political change in the region. The registered voters in Ward 8 total 3,636.
A Major Upset
The EFF’s victory comes as a surprise, especially considering that the ANC had beaten the EFF by 38 percentage points in the national and provincial elections on May 29. The ward was previously won by the Setsoto Service Delivery Forum (SSDF) in the 2021 municipal elections.
Candidates in the By-Election
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Free State announced six candidates from different political parties for the by-election:
1. Mohau Richard Mokone - African Congress for Transformation (ACT)
2. Tsheliso Bernard Jakobo - African National Congress (ANC)
3. Teboho Andrew Ranooe - Congress of the People (COPE)
4. Lebohang Gilbert Mokoakoe - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
5. Nkepe Michael Litabe - Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)
6. Mahlomola Ephraim Ntoule - Setsoto Service Delivery Forum (SSDF)The by-election was necessary due to the death of the previous SSDF councillor. In the 2021 Municipal Elections, the voter turnout for this ward was 50.63%.
EFF’s Statement and Vision
In a statement, the EFF Free State celebrated their victory: “The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Free State is pleased to announce the By-Election victory in Ward 8, Setsoto Local Municipality in Thabo Mofutsanyane Region. We wish to take this opportunity to thank all the ground forces and leaders of the EFF for ensuring maximum participation and securing significant electoral growth.”
The EFF highlighted their growth in traditional strongholds of the ruling party and noted that in 2021, they received 240 votes in Ward 8, compared to the decisive 1,207 votes in the recent by-election. They attributed their success to the community’s growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party and their belief in the EFF’s policies.
“The EFF continues to make progress in its quest to capture the imagination of South Africans and unseat the ruling party. We extend our gratitude to all those voters of Hlohlolwane who have shown faith in the EFF and its ideas. The electoral growth is proof that our people are tired of the ruling party as they have shown in the recent general elections and have chosen their future! Today’s victory is proof that the EFF is here to stay despite the determined attempts to denigrate and misrepresent its superior and logical policy perspectives.”
EFF’s Commitments to the Community
During their campaign, the EFF made several commitments to the residents of Ward 8, including:
1. Prompt attention to sewer spillages and illegal dumping areas, ensuring a clean environment.
2. Provision of clean and safe drinking water.
3. Re-gravelling and maintaining all roads in Ward 8.
4. Accelerating the bucket eradication programme.
5. Refurbishing the Ward Councillor’s office space.
6. Developing a comprehensive Ward profile and fostering an active Ward committee.
7. Extending clinic working hours.
8. Amending the indigent policy to increase the threshold from R3,500 to R7,000 monthly income.
9. Writing off the debt for those deemed indigent.
10. Electrifying sections in Ward 8 without electricity.
11. Regularising the Zone 14 informal settlement and providing adequate services.
12. Erecting an SAPS satellite office to combat crime, drug dealing, and drug use.Continued Growth and Future Plans
Last year, the EFF also won Ward 17 in Dihlabeng Municipality, Free State, a ward previously held by the ANC. The EFF won by 56.94% compared to 39.69% in the 2021 municipal elections. This pattern of victories suggests a significant shift in the political landscape of the Free State.
The EFF’s commitment to addressing the immediate needs of the community and their strategic growth indicate that they are poised to continue making inroads in future elections, aiming for total victory in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
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