DA ward candidate for Ward 2 in Stellenbosch, Welhelmina “Minnie” Petersen.
Image: Facebook / Stellenbosch Municipality
The Stellenbosch Municipality will soon declare a vacancy so that by-elections can be held after DA ward candidate Wilhelmina “Minnie” Petersen posthumously won Ward 2 in the local government elections.
Petersen, 67, died on October 28 after serving at both Stellenbosch Municipality and Cape Winelands District Municipality.
She was the mayoral committee member for rural and social development in the Cape Winelands District Municipality after the 2021 local government elections.
She initially served as the chief whip from 2016 to 2018, speaker from 2018 to 2020, and deputy mayor in 2020 in the Stellenbosch Municipality.
IEC outlines by-election process
The election results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) show that the long-time DA councillor won the ward, which incorporates parts of Franschhoek and La Mottee, with 42.4%.
This was up from 39.33% of the votes in the 2021 local government elections.
The ANC came second with 28.82% of the votes, down from 38.22% five years ago when Petersen won with a margin of 1.11% of the vote.
The Patriotic Alliance came third with 19.19% of the votes, followed by the Freedom Front Plus 3.02%, Afrika Mayibuye Movement 2.51%, the EFF 1.89% and African Independent Congress 1.17%.
On Monday, the IEC said the vacancy for Ward 2 in Stellenbosch needed to be declared by the municipal manager.
“This has not been received yet,” said the electoral body.
The IEC further said that the final list of councillors still needs to be gazetted and only then can the municipal managers act on anything.
It also explained that the by-election is usually held within 90 days from the date the municipal manager declared the vacancy.
Petersen remembered for public service
The IEC added that it was currently unaware of any other such cases in the Western Cape.
No comment was obtained from the DA at the time of publishing.
Petersen was laid to rest on Saturday after a service was held at the Groendal Community Hall in Franschhoek.
The Stellenbosch Municipality had in a tribute to Petersen said she would be remembered for her years of service, her leadership and her commitment to the people she represented.
“Councillor Petersen was a familiar and respected figure in our communities for many years, serving with dedication and commitment and championing the needs, concerns and priorities of the residents she represented.”