Five municipal by-elections would take place in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and the Western Cape this week, the Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said on Monday.

Twenty candidates representing eight political parties will contest five wards on Wednesday.

In Gauteng, ward 91 in Ekurhuleni, whose Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor resigned, will be contested by four parties – Melinda Maré of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Michael Mkhanyeli Mabhena of the African National Congress (ANC), Desmond Andrew McKenzie of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Matome Jeffrey Musekwa of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

In the City of Johannesburg, Mongameli Mnyameni of the ANC, Shenaaz Khan of the Congress of the People (COPE), Gcinilizwe Salaze of the DA and Mahuma Pelo Jeremiah Moholoaboni of the EFF will contest ward 124. The position became vacant after the ANC councillor died.

Free State’s Matjhabeng municipality in Welkom would see Mofihli Phillip Thejane of the ACDP, Sabata Dominic Lenong (ANC), Margaretha Johanna Badenhorst (DA), Sello Patrick Molefi (EFF), Lesego Wilfred Masibi of the Power of Africans Unity (PAU) and Motete Petrus Kopela representing the United Front of Civics (UFC) contest the by-election. The ward was previously represented by the DA whose councillor resigned.

Ward five in the Bergrivier municipality, Western Cape will be contested by Billy J Claasen (ANC), Martha van der Ventel representing the Cape Party (CP), Sarah Willemse (DA) and Dirk Jakobus Adams (EFF). The ward became vacant after the DA councillor died.

In the Eastern Cape’s Ngqushwa municipality, the candidates are Mlungiseleli Luzipho (ANC) and Nontsikelelo Felicia Majamani (EFF). The ward was previously represented by the ANC and became vacant as a result of the death of the councillor.