ANC, DA make decisive gains

An otherwise peaceful national election  in the Ilembe district was marred by the murder of an African National Congress (ANC) member.
In the only violent incident reported in the province, ANC volunteer Thando Nuh Mhlongo was shot dead outside a polling station in Lindelani on Wednesday evening, in full view of ANC and IFP members.
Mhlongo, a municipal street sweeper, was standing near an information table when she was shot, allegedly by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) member Mxolisi Nxumalo (28) in what was initially thought to be a politically-motivated attack.
This has since been disputed by ward councillor Jabulani Sibiya.
“I believe this was not political, but a personal matter.”
IFP member S’thembiso Xulu then claimed he had been the target of the Lindelani shooting, saying he narrowly escaped with his life.
“I just want people to know that it was not an IFP member who murdered the ANC volunteer. It was one of the ANC members who was shooting at me. He missed and unfortunately an innocent woman was killed,” said Xulu.
The 76% voter turnout in KZN was the highest recorded since the 1994 general election, which was mirrored in the Ilembe district with more than 200 000 valid votes cast.
The ANC romped in with a decisive victory in Ilembe, retaining the highest percentage of votes in KwaDukuza, Ndwedwe and Mandeni and doubling its support in Maphumulo – which it snatched from the IFP in the 2011 municipal government elections. The ruling party got 69,55% of the vote in the 2011 municipal government elections and stayed constant at 69,47% in the 2014 national elections.
Ward-based support for the ANC grew in some parts of KwaDukuza, with the most significant change occurring in IFP-stronghold Lindelani (Ward 5).
Until now, Lindelani had been an IFP-stronghold and the only IFP ward in KwaDukuza. The ANC pipped the IFP by a slim 288 votes to become the ward’s leading party, increasing their support by 4,5% compared to the 2011 municipal government elections. The reason for the ANC’s victory in this ward is a clear split in the votes between the IFP and supporters of break-away National Freedom Party (NFP).
The Democratic Alliance (DA) showed impressive growth in KZN, unseating the IFP as the official opposition party and gaining 19,47% of the vote in KwaDukuza.
The official opposition increased its support base in all four KwaDukuza wards it controls. A bonus for the DA was newfound support in ward 13 (Glenhills) where it increased from 28% of the vote in 2011 to a majority 47% this year.
Smaller parties did not fare well in Ilembe, with support for the Congress of the People (COPE) African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and Minority Front (MF) dwindling in all four local municipalities. In KwaDukuza all three parties scored well below 1000 votes each.
Election fever seems to have simmered down in Ilembe but tensions flared on Monday, when Nxumalo made his first appearance in connection with Mhlongo’s murder.
ANC and IFP supporters protested outside the KwaDukuza magistrate’s court prompting party leaders to call for restraint and unity.
IFP member Ben Masondo demanded Nxumalo’s release.
“He was arrested along with an ANC member who was released without appearing in court.”
This has not been confirmed.
KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu joined ANC protesters outside the court.
“We urge the community to exercise order and restraint while justice takes its course. We are certain that this case will bring about a sense of closure to the family of the bereaved, the community of Lindelani and the ruling party,” said Mthembu.
Nxumalo will return to court on May 19.