By Celani Sikhakhane
- IFP wins ward 15 in Mhlabuyalingana with 48% of votes while MK Party’s support drops from 54% to 19%.
- ANC keeps control in Eastern Cape’s Matatiele ward with 70% of votes while MK Party gets only 8%.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has won back support from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in uMkhanyakude after winning Wednesday’s by-election.
The MKP lost more than 40% of its support during the ward 15 vote in Mhlabuyalingana under the uMkhanyakude District.
The party had received strong backing before the 29 May general elections in that ward, getting 54% of the votes, which suggested it would do well in the by-election.
But on Wednesday, it only got 19% of the votes.
The IFP bounced back after losing many voting districts to the MKP in the 29 May general elections.
The party won Wednesday’s by-election with 48% after getting only 29% in the May general elections.
The ANC also saw its support drop, getting only 30% on Wednesday, down from 58% in the May general election in that ward.
Other parties, like the National Freedom Party (NFP) and the EFF breakaway party called African Economic Freedom (AEF), got 1% each.
The EFF and the DA did not contest the ward.
This is the second time the MKP has lost support in uMkhanyakude after losing ward 4 of iNkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality to the IFP on 5 December.
The IFP’s win means the party now fully controls uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality.
In the Eastern Cape, the MKP also lost heavily, getting only 8% of the vote in ward 10 in Matatiele under the Alfred Nzo Local Municipality.
The ANC won a big victory with more than 70% on Wednesday in that ward.
Pictured above: Jacob Zuma alongside uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s Head of Presidency Magasela Mzobe, Secretary General Floyd Shivambu and Party Leader Dr. Mandlakayise Hlophe at the SONA Debate.
Image source: @MkhontoweSizwex
