The Independent Alliance’s surprise election success in KwaDukuza

Winning 5 seats with 7.54% of the vote in KwaDukuza municipal (KDM) council, the Independent Alliance (IA) are locally the surprise hit of this year’s elections.

Three new parties have been able to grab seats in KwaDukuza, the IA (5), ActionSA (5) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM, 1).

These parties could all be crucial players in coalition talks within KDM as the African National Congress (ANC) needs just 1 seat to hold control.

For context, 7.54% beats both the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in KDM.

The IA was formed in 2018 by a group of former independent councillors and candidates.

Notably, Melisizwe Commie Ntleko (previously the Ward 2 councillor) and Michael Mbusiso Madlala (previously the Ward 27 councillor) joined forces, along with another 24 independent candidates.

Ntleko, the IA chairperson, spoke of the party’s formation.

“We wanted to make sure that every vote is not wasted. That is why we first met in 2018 and then formally registered in 2020 for the elections,” he said.

Hypothetically, 10 independent candidates could run in close-fought ward races, but those who did not win would not have the added advantage of proportional representation (PR) that a party gets, he said.

This has proven to be correct, with both Ntleko and Madlala losing their former ward seats in tight races to the ANC this year.

As part of the IA however, both will retain seats in KDM council as PR councillors.

The other 3 councillors picked by the IA are Phathabakhe Shezi, CM Ngwane and Ebrahim Kolia.

Aside from KDM, the IA also competed in Ndwedwe, Maphumulo, Big Five Hlabisa and Jozini, winning 1 seat in Maphumulo.

The party also won a seat in the iLembe District Municipality council, which will be filled by Siyabonga Khuzwayo.

“We are happy, but we expected a little bit more considering all the work we have done around KZN. We are the young kids in politics, so we will see how things go in the next election.”

As for the IA logo, which may appear militant, Ntleko explains its significance.

“There are 3 lines of unbroken barbed wire. The first represents the lack of power that voters in South Africa have. Although we are a democracy, people’s votes do not carry as much power as they should in our country.

“The second represents the lack of safety that citizens have, from dangerous crime and for safety of their livelihoods.

“Finally, the last line is for the lack of economic freedom in South Africa. For too long, residents have been kept down by the politicians who only help themselves. It’s not about BEE or white minority capital, it’s about building a country where all races can prosper.

“The hand with the spear shows that we will fight to right these wrongs.”

Ntleko said the party leadership were in ongoing coalition talks within both KDM and Maphumulo, but could not yet divulge any information.

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