Rumours of a hit list, comprising of names of those who should be ‘neutralised’ to influence the make-up of the new Endumeni Council, are already circulating.
The Courier can confirm that a SAPS Task Team is investigating the claims. The list apparently includes a name of a ward Councillor who won his seat and several others who assisted his campaign.
This comes after the results left Endumeni with a ‘hung’ Council, which could lead to a coalition government. The ANC won six seats (five wards and one proportional seat), the IFP four seats (one ward and three proportional seats), the DA two seats (one ward and one proportional seat) and the EFF one proportional seat. Should the IFP, DA and EFF form a coalition, through horse trading, the key positions of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Speaker will be allocated to the IFP, DA and EFF. However, there could be a compromise to include an ANC Councillor among these key positions to appease the party that won the most votes in Endumeni: 8 452 or 50.54% of votes cast.
The final jostling of positions will see plenty of negotiations and horse trading but whatever happens, most Endumeni residents who spoke to the Courier on voting day, agreed that ‘all we want is a better town and better opportunities.’
The IFP is set to regain control of the Umzinyathi District Municipality with just over 50% of the vote to the ANC’s 43%. It was a close call in Nquthu with the IFP taking 44%, the ANC 43%, the EFF 3% and the DA 2,1%. This will also be a coalition Council.
Msinga is again overwhelmingly IFP with the party winning 66.6% of votes cast.

Parties react
ANC: “We thank all our supporters – we are humbled to win five out of the seven wards. We require an additional seat by law to form a majority quorum.
“We are currently applying our minds. We accept the result of the ballot box at the Umzinyathi District and will work harder in future to ensure victory.”
EFF: “We are very pleased with the outcome. Our fighters worked hard and the EFF, being the new kids on the block, thanks all the businesses and voters who supported us.
“We remind other parties that we are not going anywhere but we will be coming back stronger. Do not forget: we are in town and we are for the people.
“The EFF is watching carefully – fighters do not cry.”
DA: The real winners in this election was the IFP who gained support from the NFP and disgruntled ANC supporters. This was quite evident in Ward 3, Sithembile. Ward 2 was an especially challenging contest considering the new ward boundaries imposed by the Demarcation Board. The Horse Riding voting station was enlarged to include an additional 500 voters from the Sibongile Admin. Office.
The DA had a majority of 507 votes at the Dundee Junior School, which was pitched against the 688 majority of the ANC at the Horse Riding Track. Although the DA increased their support in Ward 2, the new ward boundaries at the Horse Track resulted in an ANC win by only 181 votes. In Glencoe, we did well to win Ward 7.
The Council does not have an outright majority and Endumeni will be governed by a coalition, which will hopefully be to the benefit of all residents.
IFP: The IFP on Monday undertook a victory parade in town and said they would release a statement as soon as they can.