By Celani Sikhakhane
The Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) has won Ward 14 in Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, Port Shepstone, taking advantage of divisions within the ANC in the Lower South Coast Region.
ANC members in the region have raised concerns about the local leadership, accusing them of causing division within the party.
These issues were discussed during a visit by the National Working Committee, led by Mondli Gungubele, where members complained about infighting.
As a result, the ANC lost Ward 14 to MK’s Pat Madlala. This follows the ANC’s earlier losses in the uMzumbe Municipality, where they lost other wards to the MK and IFP.
In the Mdoni Local Municipality, where the ANC faces protests, the DA easily held onto its ward with a big win.
Across nine by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC managed to keep its ward in Mpofana Local Municipality and Ward 24 in Ray Nkonyeni. The IFP kept Ward 4 in Thaleni, Nkandla.
The MK ran a strong campaign in Nkandla and received a warm welcome, even from IFP supporters, during a visit by Premier Thami Ntuli. Despite the MK’s efforts, the IFP won Ward 4 in Nkandla with a large number of votes.
In Durban suburbs, the DA kept all its wards, including Ward 35 in the wealthy area of Umhlanga.
ActionSA, EFF, and NFP were the biggest losers in these by-elections.
ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo praised the unity of ANC members in the Musa Dladla Region (Nkandla) and eThekwini, even though the party lost in these areas.
DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers said they are grateful for the trust voters have in them.
‘The DA is committed to providing the services voters in KZN deserve,’ he said.
Pictured above: Umkhonto weSizwe Party’s new ward 14 councillor, Thamsanqa Pat Madlala, under Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality.
Source: MK
