Celani Sikhakhane
Political divisions in the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and the composition of its new leadership have convinced the political opposition that it can unseat the ANC in 2024.
The ANC has elected a leadership structure that supports – former president Jacob Zuma, suspended ANC secretary Ace Magashule and former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede – all leaders who have been charged with fraud and corruption or implicated in the state capture commission report.
The DA was the first to point this weakness out with a digital poster that mocks newly elected provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma as the “2024 incoming opposition leader”.
The cheeky statement is not exactly a pipe dream.
In the November 2021 local government elections, the ANC won 41,9% of the provincial vote in KZN.
The party has also lost most of the key municipalities in KZN after there was no clear majority in 18 municipalities in the last municipal elections.
The ANC almost lost eThekwini Metro but was assisted by Philani Mavundla of the Abantu Batho Congress who voted with the ANC.
This places KZN in the same position as the Gauteng province which seems destined to be ruled by a coalition government in the general elections in 2024.
“When we congratulated Duma we made it clear that he is the upcoming opposition leader since the ANC will be an opposition in 2024,” said provincial DA leader Francois Rodgers.
He told Scrolla.Africa on Monday that the writing is on the wall. He said in 2024 the ANC will get under 50% and lose the power it gained in 2004.
He said the ANC has already lost its support in the last local government election.
Sboniso Duma defeated the outgoing leader Sihle Zikalala.
Many tweeps called the DA statement wishful thinking saying they would believe the statement if it was coming from the IFP as they have a bigger chance of taking the province.
In 2019 the ANC lost 10 seats at the KZN Legislature and the DA believes that in 2024 they are going to lose another 10 seats.
