Durban — The IFP has won another crucial by-election in another hung municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. This was at a fiercely contested Ward 11 in Umuziwabantu Local Municipality in Harding on the lower South Coast.
The IFP obtained a clear majority with 1 149 votes, while the ANC managed to get only 355, and a new party, The Sun, got 503 according to the figures posted by the IFP.
The by-election was held on Wednesday.
Party provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli said on Thursday that the resounding victory in Ward 11 reflected the confidence that the people of KwaZulu-Natal had in the IFP.
He added that the people of the province had consistently expressed that they were tired of the arrogance and unethical leadership.
He said the recent by-elections won by the IFP in the City of uMhlathuze, as well as Mthonjaneni, uMvoti, uMfolozi and now uMuziwabantu, overwhelmingly indicate that people of KwaZulu-Natal trust the IFP.
“The IFP commits itself to continue working hard and to deliver the best service to the people of Ward 11 of uMuziwabantu, as well as the entire province of KwaZulu-Natal. The IFP’s Founder and President Emeritus, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, taught IFP members to be servant leaders and to put the people’s needs ahead of everything else. We shall continue to do that, and today we will start working in Ward 11 in the service of our people,” said Ntuli
Furthermore, he said all IFP councillors elected during these by-elections would sign the IFP’s oath, wherein they commit to serving the people with integrity.
The ward was previously held by Al Jama-ah but fell vacant in July when its councillor Mondli Ncayiyane resigned and formed his own party, The Sun.
Ncayiyane cited differences with Al Jama-h which wanted him to continue the coalition with the ANC which had offered him a deputy mayor’s position.
Victory for the IFP means it will increase its seats from five to six. It also means that the ANC will still rely on small parties to cling to power in the municipality.
In the 21-seat council the ANC got 10 followed by the IFP with six now, EFF with two, Al Jama-ah now with one, DA, one and ABC with one. The ANC currently governs with the assistance of the NFP and Al Jama-ah. The win further shows that the IFP is making inroads in lower coast areas which have always been a traditional ANC stronghold.
Daily News