The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party is struggling to maintain its general elections winning form in the province’s eight by-elections, taking only one ward.
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), in Newcastle Municipality’s ward 28 by-election results, which were released on Thursday, the MK Party got less than 30% during Wednesday’s by-election.
In the May 29 general elections, the MK Party received 59% of support in the same ward.
Previously controlled by the EFF splinter party, Team Sugar, Newcastle Municipality’s ward 28 was taken over by the IFP during Wednesday’s by-election, which saw the ANC unable to increase its support in the area.
The Newcastle Municipality ward 28 by-election came a month after the MK Party had failed to win several wards in the uMzumbe Municipality in the south coast.
In the uMzumbe Municipality’s six by-elections, the MK Party, which had run a strong election campaign in the uMzumbe area ahead of last May’s polls, was able to secure only a single ward, with three going to the IFP and two to the ANC.
Despite receiving the highest number of votes during the May general elections, the MK Party was reduced to an opposition party at the KZN Legislature after failing to secure a coalition deal, and was currently cooperating with the EFF in the provincial legislature.
However, despite the relationship between the MK Party and the EFF, who pulled out of the Newcastle by-election contest at the eleventh hour, the red berets threw their weight behind the Team Sugar party.
Meanwhile, the IFP, which currently has the highest number of seats at the Newcastle Municipality (23) described the ward 28 by-election results as “humbling”.
The IFP in KZN wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the people of ward 28 in Newcastle for their overwhelming support. The trust and confidence placed in the IFP by the voters is truly appreciated.
“The IFP is humbled by these results and is grateful to the people for remembering and honouring the legacy of the late IFP founder and president emeritus, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi,” IFP deputy provincial chairperson Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala said.
Prior to the 2021 municipal elections, the Newcastle Municipality was under the control of the ANC, which fell out of favour with the area’s residents due to poor service delivery, among other things.
Shabalala said the IFP’s ward 28 by-election victory meant that the people of Newcastle have given the party the mandate to speed up service delivery in the area.
“It is a great honour to us as the IFP. It has been long overdue to show people that the IFP is still kicking and existing in the area of KwaZulu-Natal, especially in Newcastle. So, it shows that people still believe in the IFP and are fully supporting the IFP. People are going to get services. What we request from people is that they must go to their ward councillor and report what they want so that they are given services they are in need of,” he said.
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