By Everson Luhanga
The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has humbled the ANC in its traditional stronghold in Alexandra. Since the dawn of democracy, the ANC has ruled ward 75 in the township.
But that ended on Thursday when local results were announced, indicating a clear victory for the newly formed MK party, led by former president Jacob Zuma.
MK won all five voting stations in the ward. The IFP came second.
The result in ward 75 is noteworthy as it occurred in an area home to the Madala and Nobuhle hostels, whose 6,000 residents played a crucial role in shaping the result.
Out of 8,000 votes, MK took over 4,000, with the IFP coming second with about 2,000. The race was basically between the two parties.
Most of the hostel dwellers are Zulu speakers and the vote boiled down to the fact that more of them supported Zuma’s liberation message to the more measured, sober tones of IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa.
The people who voted for MK are mainly former ANC members or supporters who became disgruntled with the governing party for a variety of reasons, including its perceived unfair treatment of Zuma.
Madala hostel dweller Khanyile Radebe said he voted for MK because life was better under former president Zuma.
“It is very hard to find jobs now. Even our living conditions are bad. We live in a dirty hostel with no service delivery at all. All we get from the current government is promises that are never fulfilled,” he said.
Two weeks before the elections, some residents of Madala hostel blocked the busy London Road with burning tyres, claiming that the ANC-led government was neglecting them regarding service delivery.
“Our hostel looks dirty and in ruins,” said Madala hostel resident Nhlanganipo Bhembe at the time.
The ANC won most of the other wards in the township.
ANC Ward 116 Councillor Adolf Marema and Tefo Raphadu are among the councillors who have made a clean sweep in their wards winning in all voting stations.
“We thank all those who came out to cast their vote and voted for the ANC in the township,” Councillor Marema said.
Traditionally, the ANC gets majority support in the country’s oldest and poorest townships.
Out of nine wards in the Alex township, the ANC won six wards, the DA won two wards and MK won only one.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s ward 109, which was in the hands of the DA, was won back by the ANC.
Pictured above: Madala Hostel in Alexandra.
Image source: Supplied
