DA and IFP retain support in by-elections
THE Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) retained their wards in the municipal by-elections held in Mthonjaneni and Richards Bay last week. With a 26.64% voter turnout in Richards Bay, the DA retained the seat in Ward 3 with 67.84% of the votes cast compared to 63.49% won in the 2016 municipal elections. Newly elected councillor, Henning de Wet said this win shows an increased support for the DA and the mandate to continue serving residents in the ward. The seat in the uMhlathuze Municipality became vacant as a result of the resignation of the party’s councillor. The IFP also retained its seat in Mthonjaneni Ward 3, winning 63.63% of the votes cast, an increase from the 55.90% the party received in the 2016 municipal elections. The seat became vacant when Cllr Mhloliseni Zulu passed away. Zipho Ndlovu won the seat with 1 081 votes, while Ndlovungeke Hlabisa of the EFF and Vusumuzi Bambiso of the ANC garnered a total of 11 and 607 votes respectively. Of the total 3 779 registered voters, 1 741 votes were cast. IFP National Campaign Committee Chairperson, Narend Singh said the party showed tremendous growth in all the wards it contested. ‘The results have been astounding, especially in voting districts in which we have had a slight showing before. ‘Our results in the past three by-elections certainly serve as a springboard for next year’s National General Election. The IFP is growing stronger in every election,’ Singh said. The African National Congress (ANC) which had been contesting in both areas, acknowledged the result and the will of the residents. ‘As the ANC, we appreciate the tolerance that prevailed amongst the political contenders in both wards. ‘We also thank all those residents who participated in this democratic exercise. ‘Our councillor candidates and all branch leaders in the two municipal wards are to continue servicing the communities of these wards,’ANC Musa Dladla Region said. Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) supervisor in King Cetshwayo, Thulile Dlamini commended the smooth running of the elections in both wards. ‘Although there were objections ahead of the voting regarding some people on the roll not being from the area, as the IEC we were able to safeguard and ensure every person coming in to vote was living in that ward. ‘Particularly in Mthonjaneni, there were about 30 people that did not vote because they do not live in that ward,’ Dlamini said.