Scores flock to polls to choose councillors

A total of 21 political parties and five independent candidates battled it out for the control of Thabazimbi local municipality in Limpopo, as thousands came out to cast their ballots in the by-elections yesterday.

- Alex Japho Matlala

Electoral Commission provincial electoral officer Nkaro Mateta said 51,009 people had been registered to vote at the town's 57 voting stations.

"On Tuesday during special votes, we received nearly more than half of those who had registered. We believe by 9pm when we close the stations a lot of people would have turned up at the polling stations," said Mateta.

The population of Thabazimbi is approximately 64,993 with 51,399 registered voters.

There are over 20,000 registered female voters and close to 30,000 men.

More than 1,300 new voters, aged 18 to 19 who did not participate in the general elections, were among the registered to vote.