By Celani Sikhakhane
- ANC won the ward with 1,602 votes, beating MK Party’s 1,160 votes and IFP’s 344 votes in Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg.
- The win came after the IFP kicked out its popular ward councillor for bad behaviour, including drinking too much alcohol.
The ANC has won back control of Ward 2 in Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg. The ANC had lost the Msunduzi Municipality ward to the IFP during a by-election in February 2023.
During Wednesday’s by-election, it turned the political tables and beat the combined uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the IFP.
ANC candidate Nduduzo Zuma won with 1,602 votes. The MK Party came second with 1,160 votes, while the IFP got only 344 votes in the ward it used to control. The EFF did not take part in the election.
The IFP lost support after kicking out its ward councillor for breaking rules, including drinking too much alcohol.
The MK Party had its problems. Two groups in the party fought over who should be their candidate.
One group, led by convener Willies Mchunu, supported Nkosinathi Mshengu, who got 157 votes at a community meeting.
The other group, led by Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa and Thobani Zuma, backed Sthabile Nkabinde, who got 137 votes.
ANC KZN Secretary Bheki Mtolo says this win shows the party is getting stronger again.
“We attribute the success to the organisational renewal programme that has helped to rebuild, reenergise, unite and refocus the party on its historic mission.
The ANC was established to lift ordinary members of society out of abject poverty and ensure an improved quality of life,” said Mtolo.
He says the voters trust the ANC to improve their lives through government services.
“They are saying let us turn the ANC into a more potent weapon for the transformation of our society and improvement of the lives of the people. Only a strong and united ANC can deliver the future of our dreams,” said Mtolo.
Mtolo promised the ANC would work harder to deliver services across KwaZulu-Natal.
The MK Party secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, said they have already acted against those who violated internal processes.
He revealed that some went to the IEC and deregistered the name of candidate Mshengu, who was the product of the community meeting.
“Commander Mchunu rightfully challenged the wrongful candidate in court. Despite the court’s refusal, we managed to reaffirm our principle on the candidate of Mshengu,” said Shivambu.
Pictured above: ANC ward 2 Msunduzi local Municipality candidate Nduduzo Zuma who defeated the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and took the IFP ward with a resounding victory on
Wednesday by-elections.
Source: X
