By Sihle Mavuso
The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, failed to meet expectations in the Umzumbe by-elections in southern KwaZulu-Natal.
It was anticipated that the MK would dominate the six contested wards and start a campaign to take control of the municipality from the ANC.
However, the MK managed to win only one ward (Ward 11), where former Umzumbe Speaker Sbonelo Maphumulo, previously with the ANC, emerged victorious.
The biggest winner was the IFP, which secured three of the six contested wards.
These wards were previously won by the ANC in the November 2021 local government elections. The ANC kept two of the wards.
The ANC’s setbacks continued in Mthonjaneni (Melmoth) Local Municipality, where it lost a ward to the IFP.
The ward was won by the ANC in 2021. A councillor’s resignation earlier this year led to the by-election.
Additionally, the ANC lost Ward 5 in Newcastle to the DA. The DA described the victory as hard-fought in a ward plagued by service delivery and infrastructure issues.
Despite these losses, the ANC managed to defend Ward 1 in its stronghold of Umzimkhulu in the Harry Gwala District.
Besides the victory in Umzumbe, the IFP defended its wards in Uphongolo, and Nongoma, and won a ward in Umvoti (Greytown).
The IFP claimed these results show the people’s faith in their leadership.
Pictured above: Umkhonto Wesizwe.
Source: File
