IFP wins Nquthu by-election

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has won 14 of the 17 wards at Nquthu municipality by-election, paving the way for the party to govern the municipality as the majority party.

The remaining three wards were won by the ANC.

KwaZulu-Natal Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) head Mawethu Mosery said yesterday that of the 33 council seats, the IFP clinched 19, 11 went to the ANC and one each to the Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the National Freedom Party (NFP).

The big four parties, the EFF, ANC, DA and the IFP, launched massive campaigns in Nquthu in the run-up to the by-election.

The EFF’s Julius Malema, ANC heavyweights President Jacob Zuma and his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the IFP’s Mangosuthu Buthelezi all campaigned in the area.

Up to 14 parties campaigned and took part in the by-election.

The by-elections were called after the council was dissolved over incessant squabbling among the coalition partners.

At the last polls, in 2016, the ANC attained 42% of the vote, which led to a coalition.

The council was not able to sit because of inter-party squabbles which, in turn, affected service delivery. – ANA