IFP wins crucial by-elections again
THE IFP in Kwazulu-natal has consolidated its power grip in the Mthonjaneni and Abaqulusi local municipalities after winning crucial by-elections on Wednesday.
The party snatched ward 5 in Mthonjaneni (Melmoth) from the ANC, consolidating its power in the municipality. The IFP’S win means the party will comfortably govern the northern KZN municipality without a coalition.
The IFP won 12 seats and the ANC 10 in the 25-seat council last year, while the NFP, EFF and an independent councillor got one seat each. The IFP managed to retain power in the municipality with the assistance of the EFF.
Although the IFP claimed victory, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said the results were withheld since the IFP had lodged a complaint about ANC supporters who it claimed were bused in from outside.
IEC KZN spokesperson Thabani
Ngwira said they were waiting for the police report on fraud cases opened by the IFP.
The ward became vacant after the resignation of ANC councillor Michael Khuzwayo, who the ANC claimed was offered a bribe by the IFP.
This was denied by the IFP, which challenged the ANC to prove its claims or go to court. The IFP’S control over the municipality was hanging in the balance after the EFF entered coalition talks with the ANC to dislodge the IFP in the municipalities they were co-governing.
In another northern KZN municipality, Abaqulusi in Vryheid, the IFP retained ward 13, also strengthening its grip on power ahead of the vote of no confidence against its embattled mayor and deputy mayor next week. The ward became vacant after IFP councillor Phaphama Mbatha died in a car accident in September. In the 45-seat council, the IFP has 21 seats, ANC 14, DA 2, NFP 4, EFF 3 and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) 1.
The IFP retained the municipality after last year’s local government election with the assistance of the EFF. With a new agreement with the DA, even if the EFF dumps the IFP, the motion is unlikely to be successful since the DA and the FF+ were likely to vote with the IFP. As was expected, the IFP also retained its ward 11 in Msinga.
The entire Msinga area has been the party’s traditional stronghold since the advent of local government.
The ANC managed to retain ward 1 in the Kwamaphumulo Local Municipality by 60.81%. Its new councillor is Happyboy Mhlongo.
The ANC’S provincial spokesperson, Mafika Mndebele, denied allegations of busing people in to vote in Mthonjaneni and said the IFP must prove those people were ANC members. He said the ANC was happy it retained its ward in Kwamaphumulo.
In the 23-seat council, the ANC has 11 seats, the IFP 10 and the EFF and an independent councillor one seat each.
The DA also retained ward 10 in the Umdoni Local Municipality on the South Coast.