Politics; ANC loses Tlokwe Ward 26
According to preliminary results, Mahlabe won with 630 votes to the ANC's 406 votes.
Mahlabe was one of the 14 councillors who were expelled by the ANC in July after its provincial disciplinary committee found them guilty on four counts of misconduct for participating in a motion of no confidence against Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle.
Maphetle was replaced as mayor by Democratic Alliance councillor Annette Combrink.
However, the ANC's national disciplinary committee overturned the expulsions.
Despite this, eight of the councillors registered as independent candidates for the by-elections.
Mahlabe was a councillor in the area for 12 years.
Resident's supporting an independent candidate in Tlokwe's ward 26 by-elections were celebrating what appeared to be an early victory on Wednesday evening.
The crowd of about 100 people burst into song and ran into the street after someone told them Butiki "Stone" Mahlabe was in the lead.
Voting stations closed at 21:00 and counting commenced.
It could not be officially confirmed whether Mahlabe was in the lead.
He and the African National Congress's Oupa Mogoshane were contesting the ward.
"This is Stone's place, those who don't want him can go back," they sang.
They also sang: "Are you a fool supporting [President Jacob] Zuma", "Zuma what you doing is not right" and "stop that side, we are killing these dogs".
No ANC supporters were standing outside the school. Police kept a watch over the crowd.
A nyala drove up and down while police officers asked the residents to stay out of the road.
- SAPA
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