Crucial by-election in uMhlathuze
DESPITE ANC and IFP leaders speaking of burying the hatchet, both parties are involved in a fierce battle for control of Mandlakala area under Ward 12 in uMhlathuze Municipality on the North Coast.
The battle has seen both parties inviting popular artists such as DJ Tira and maskandi kingpin Khuzani Mpungose in a bid to draw large crowds for pre-election rallies this Sunday ahead of the by-election next Wednesday.
While the ANC has the most seats (26), the IFP, with 23 seats, managed to elbow out its political opponent by entering into a coalition arrangement which includes the DA, the ACDP and Freedom Front Plus to run the municipality.
Electoral Commission of South Africa King Cetshwayo regional manager Thule Dlamini said next week’s by-election was a result of the resignation of ANC ward councillor Thembelani Nsele.
“He resigned on 29 June and as per requirement a by-election must be held within a 90-day period after a vacancy has been declared,” she explained.
In the 2021 elections, Dlamini said, the ANC got 1 541 votes compared with the IFP’s 669, which suggests the ward is an ANC stronghold. In the last elections the ward had 6 767 registered voters.
However, IFP leader in the region and uMhlathuze Mayor Xolani Ngwezi has expressed confidence at the party’s prospects, saying they had covered a lot of ground since last November.
“It goes without saying that we will win because since we took over the governance of the municipality we have done a lot for the local community and many people have expressed their appreciation for the work we are doing.”
He conceded they had lost the ward by a huge margin in the past, but cited the provision of water to many communities as one of the features that had illustrated their service-delivery ability.
“We know that history suggests that this is an ANC stronghold, but it also shows that while this municipality used to be under them, it is us now who are in governance and that is why we are confident of changing history.”
Ngwezi indicated that they had also increased their membership in the ward and this put them in a better position to win.
“We now have over 1 500 members in that ward, when you consider that this is almost the number with which the ANC won and bearing in mind that there are people who have committed to voting for us, then you see why we fancy our chances,” he said.
ANC Musa Dladla Region Secretary Nathi Xulu said they were looking at retaining the ward as part of a broader plan to take over the city of uMhlathuze.
The vacancy, he explained, had been a result of a candidate who had been incorrectly registered, and in line with the ruling party’s national directive to make corrections, Nsele had been asked to resign.
He added that due to the error, Nsele had not been popular with the local community. “When he called public meetings there would be a very small turnout because people did not recognise him as their public representative and that was one of the reasons we moved with such speed to correct this,” Xulu said.
He said there were ongoing discussions with other parties for a coalition.
Asked about why some artists featured on an ANC poster and that of the IFP, Xulu said they would correct this soon. “What was posted on social media was a draft poster and the real one will be posted soon and it will have bigger names from the industry.”