Africa-Press – South-Africa. The IFP has convincingly snatched Ward 99 in the eThekwini metro away from the ANC for the first time since the dawn of democracy in the country, winning the ward by more than 1 000 votes following a by-election on Wednesday.
IFP candidate Jane Naidoo secured 62% of the vote, while the ANC only got 36%.
The win came after the DA opted to back the IFP following high-level talks between national leaders, including the IFP’s Velenkosini Hlabisa and the DA’s Helen Zille, all in an effort to oust the ANC.
The delicate partnership between the opposition saw the IFP win 4 313 votes compared to the ANC’s 2 530, with the IFP winning by a massive 1 783 vote margin.
ANC candidate Mzwandile “Nontulo” Bhekingwe was nowhere to be seen in the area as voting kicked off on Wednesday. He told News24 he was in Durban central, about 40 minutes away, after midday while his supporters were out in their numbers.
IFP provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli said voters showed they wanted change and better services.
“Thousands of Ward 99 residents have proven this through voting for the IFP in large numbers. It is worth noting that since the dawn of democracy, this ward had always been in the hands of the ANC,” he said on Thursday.
Ntuli accused the ruling ANC of using government resources to try to secure votes.
Ntuli thanked the DA for its contribution to the win.
He said:
He added that the DA’s act motivated IFP leaders and volunteers to work even harder to mobilise support.
“They did this with an understanding that the hope and trust of the people of eThekwini – and beyond – lies with the IFP.”
The IFP’ s victory in Ward 99 means that the number of IFP councillors in the eThekwini Municipality has increased from 16 to 17, making it one of the strongest opposition parties in the metro, according to Ntuli.
He stressed that the ANC’s neglect of eThekwini residents’ needs was clear because of the visibly filthy town and E. coli and sewage-contaminated beaches.
“The IFP believes that the people of eThekwini deserve better treatment, the best services and leaders with integrity – none of which is offered by the current ANC-led leadership.”
The Ward 99 win by the IFP follows another victory in Mthonjaneni, AbaQulusini (Vryheid) and uMsinga less than a month ago.
The IFP’s victory also comes two days after the ANC in eThekwini dumped Abantu Batho Congress leader Philani Mavundla from the eThekwini executive committee. The ruling party relied on his support to secure the eThekwini metro, along with other smaller parties, after failing to secure a majority.
On Tuesday, the EFF voted with the ANC to oust Mavundla.
A new executive committee member is likely to be appointed in the new year.
Opposition parties have gradually eroded the ANC’s majority over the years as service delivery under the party drastically declined.
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