ANC wins big at KwaZulu-Natal by-elections.
- Four by-elections took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng on Wednesday.
- The ANC won three of them, while the IFP won one.
- The by-elections were characterised by a significantly low voter turnout.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal might be continuing its by-election winning streak in its traditional strongholds – but this was not the case in a ward in the Inkosi Langalibalele Municipality, where the IFP has now taken over after a resounding win.
Two wards were up for grabs in eThekwini and Ray Nkonyeni – and both had poor voter turnout.
The IFP and ANC have continued to hold their traditional bases in by-elections in the north and south of the province.
The ANC recently reclaimed Ward 7 in the Mkhambathini Municipality.
However, it has not always been smooth sailing for the ruling party after some losses to the IFP and EFF.
According to results posted on the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s website, in eThekwini’s Ward 101, ANC candidate Simphiwe Khanyile garnered 2 309 votes to fend off the IFP’s Mandlenkosi Ntshangase (787 votes), EFF’s Mduduzi Dlamini (243), ATM’s Likho Hlophe (70) and African Freedom Revolution’s (AFR) Eric Baleni (21).
READ | ANC celebrates as it snatches key ward from DA in KZN by-election
Out of 16 071 registered voters, only 3 430 votes were tallied.
In Ward 23 in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, ANC candidate Bheki Wiseman Cele snatched 2 093 or 90.84% of the 2 304 votes.
There are 5 596 registered voters in that ward.
The EFF’s Jerome Cimela finished second with 150 votes, followed by the IFP’s Phumla Mcwabe (49) and AFR’s Thobile Ntaka (12).
ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo wasted no time in celebrating the two wins and slighting the Multi-Party Charter, saying the party was buoyed by the “resounding victory.”
He added:
The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal can now proclaim with confidence that the Multi-Party Charter’s reputation has been damaged irreparably. The successive defeats and disastrous results in the last by-elections which is punctuated by an excellent performance of the ANC sends shivers of fear among the racists and their puppets. Once again, we pause to express our deepest appreciation to local communities. They have communicated overwhelmingly through the ballot box that the ANC is the only authentic and trusted instrument for the transformation of their lives.
Meanwhile, in Ward 11 in the iNkosi Langalibalele Municipality, the IFP’s Sanele Madlala garnered 1 348 of the tallied 2 409 votes.
The ANC’s Mbuso Shelembe bagged 990 votes while the EFF’s Sbonelo Sithole attracted only 71.
All told, there were 26 340 registered voters in the three KwaZulu-Natal municipalities.
IFP provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli said: “This victory not only solidifies the IFP’s standing as a political force to be reckoned with but also underscores the unwavering support and trust it enjoys from the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
“The IFP attributes its remarkable achievement to the lasting legacy of its founder and president, Emeritus Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
“His visionary leadership continues to inspire the party and its members.”
In Rand West City in Gauteng, the ANC romped to victory, with Thapelo Lerothodi clinching Ward 17.
The EFF’s Dalton Baloyi received 407 votes compared to the Patriotic Alliance’s Andile Msimang’s 200.
Only 1 258 votes were counted in the ward which has 4 390 registered voters.
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