Amidst some confusion over the new ward boundaries, the political party candidates have seemingly sorted out their lists and are working hard to lure the votes for the August 3 municipal elections. A number of ward candidates, however, do not reside in the wards that they are contesting.

In Louis Trichardt, the Municipal Demarcation Board made a couple of changes to the ward boundaries. Whereas in the past there were only two wards (Wards 20 and 21), the town and adjacent areas now have three wards, Wards 7, 8 and 9.

Ward 7 includes the area north of Mimosa Street (east of the N1) and the areas north of Louis Botha Avenue (west of the N1.). The ward also includes townships such as Tshikota and Magau.

Ward 8 includes much of the CBD and “old town”, roughly west of the N1, south of Louis Botha Avenue. It also includes the industrial area and Makhado Park.

Ward 9 is a rather odd ward, encompassing a lot of the farm area towards Levubu. It cuts into town south of Mimosa Street and includes Eltivillas.

In Ward 7, eight candidates will fight it out to become the new ward councillor. The ACDP has nominated Khathutshelo Zacharia Mukwevho (49), who is also standing in Ward 8. Ironically enough he stays in Ward 9, but at least it is still in town. The ACDP’s candidate in Ward 9, Marubini Grace Mawela (44), is registered in Ward 21, quite some distance out of town.

The ANC’s candidates in Ward 7,8 and 9 are Tshililo Martha Babadu (62) for Ward 7, Basani Dick Khosa (35) in Ward 8 and Kanukani Maphubu (36) in Ward 9. Babadu and Maphubu reside in their wards, but Khosa is registered in Ward 21, at Tshedza.

Cope’s three candidates all live in town, albeit that Muladelo Edward Mulima (49), the Ward 9 candidate, resides in Ward 7. The other two candidates are Vusi Oscar Mauda (39) in Ward 7 and Jerry Tshilidzi Mulaudzi (61) in Ward 8.

The DA’s candidates in town are Nyane Bessy Jones (42) in Ward 7, Abraham du Plooy (47) in Ward 8 and Rosthidzwa Mauba (25) in Ward 9. Du Plooy is registered in Ward 7.

The EFF is the party that seemingly believes strongly in the notion that you should reside in the ward that you represent. All three their town candidates are registered in the wards they are contesting. They are Lucky Mashudu (38) in Ward 7, Takalani Lucas Madzhigili (49) in Ward 8 and Ndishavhelafhi Lucky Mudau (24) in Ward 9.

The Inkatha Freedom Party only has a candidate in Ward 7, namely Ramunenyiwa Gideon Mungango (58). He resides in Ward 7. The same goes for the SA United Party that nominated Balanganani Rambau (37) as their candidate in Ward 7.

The Unemployment Movement SA has two candidates in town, namely Tshimangadzo David Mutsharini (54) in Ward 8 and Edwin Radzilani (31) in Ward 9. Radzilani resides in his ward, but Mutsharini is registered to vote at Muratho School in Ward 20.

The Vryheidsfront Plus only has one candidate, whom they nominated in all 38 wards. Colin Gamble (29) lives in Ward 8.