By Lungani Zungu
The newly-sealed coalition deal between the IFP and DA to unseat the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has yielded immediate results after IFP snatched a ward from the ANC during Wednesday’s epic bumper by-elections.
A massive total of 457 candidates threw their hats in the ring for the 45 wards that were up for grabs in KZN, Mpumalanga and the North West.
The IFP’s Jane Naidoo became the new ward councillor in the ANC’s historical stronghold of Ward 99 in Magabheni, south of Durban.
She racked up 4,313 votes translating to 62%, during the hotly-contested by-election on Wednesday.
This is a massive increase from the 26% the party scored during last year’s November local election.
The ANC scored 2,530 votes, while the EFF managed 46.
In line with its partnership with the IFP, the DA did not field a candidate. Instead, the party voted for the IFP’s candidate.
The ward became vacant after prominent ANC councillor Mnqobi Molefe was gunned down in September.
The ANC’s internal bickering was blamed for his murder — leaving the party more divided.
However, not all was doom and gloom for the struggling ANC after the party retained all its five wards in Mkhondo Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.
The victory will help the ANC win back control of Mkhondo Local Municipality — which is currently led by an Independent mayor Mthokosi Simelane — who was elected following the 2021 local polls.
The wards were left vacant after the ANC booted its five councillors who colluded with the Independent candidate and African Transformation Movement (ATM) coalition to topple the ANC’s mayoral candidate.
This left the deeply divided party fuming.
While the official results are yet to be announced in North West’s impoverished Ditsobotla Local Municipality, the ANC looks set to retain the mayoral chains.
The ANC won the municipality with 52% during the last local government elections.
Twenty wards were vacant after the municipality collapsed due to an internal faction in the ANC.
The municipality’s budget could not be passed as it had two mayors — both from the ANC — jostling for the mayoral chains.
This forced the national government to dissolve the municipality and National Treasury to withhold its budget allocation until a new council is elected.
This had far-reaching consequences for the destitute as services such as water and electricity could not be provided.
They are hoping now that the election of new leadership will bring a new and better chapter for them.
IEC is expected to release the results today in the afternoon.
Pictured above: IFP heavyweights — including party president Velenkosini Hlabisa — after the party won ward 99 off the ANC in Magabheni south of Durban
Image source: IFP
