- Voters in King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s home ward in Mthatha elected the United Democratic Movement after years under the African National Congress.
- United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa says his party won several long-held African National Congress wards in Mthatha despite having little campaign money.
King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s own community ignored his call to boycott the elections and voted the African National Congress out of his home ward for the first time.
Voters turned out on Wednesday and handed Ward 5 in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Mthatha to the United Democratic Movement.
The ward is home to the AbaThembu king and members of his royal family.
The king’s spokesperson, Siphilele Mtirara, confirmed the result to Scrolla.Africa on Thursday.
“This ward of which is the home of the King has been governed by the African National Congress for many years. This is the first time it has been won by another political party. People came in numbers to cast their votes on Wednesday,” said Mtirara.
United Democratic Movement leader General Bantu Holomisa welcomed the victory, saying his party had taken several wards from the African National Congress.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa on Sunday morning, Holomisa said the party had also won wards in central Mthatha that had been controlled by the African National Congress for years.
“We won the ward 5 where His Majesty lives in Mthatha and other wards in the CBD that have been governed by the ANC for a very long time,” he said.
Holomisa claimed his party had weakened the African National Congress in Mthatha and increased its support despite having limited campaign funds.
“We actually kicked out the thieves while we didn’t have resources,” he said.
He said the United Democratic Movement had not received the millions of rand that some other organisations had to run their election campaigns.
The result comes after years of political battles between King Dalindyebo and the African National Congress.
The king has long called for the party to lose power following his arrest and imprisonment.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for crimes including arson, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, culpable homicide and defeating the ends of justice.
King Dalindyebo later joined the Democratic Alliance as part of his campaign against the African National Congress.
The party expelled him following his conviction.
He then joined the Economic Freedom Fighters after the party supported him during his imprisonment and called for his release.
However, the Economic Freedom Fighters later ended his membership over his diplomatic ties with Israel.
Despite the king’s call for voters to stay away from the polls, residents of his home ward turned out and voted for change.
For the first time, the African National Congress has lost control of the ward to the United Democratic Movement.
