THE African National Congress won three of the five wards contested in the municipal by-elections which took place in KwaZulu-Natal last Wednesday, according to results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The ANC retained three of its contested wards in Vulamehlo (Scottburgh), Umtshezi, and Vryheid municipalities. The Inkatha Freedom Party clung to its only ward in eThekwini, the National Freedom Party also retained its ward in Nongoma.
Vulamehlo ANC candidate Ayanda Ndlovu won 1 673 votes (81 percent) out of 2 063 valid votes. The IEC recorded 28 spoilt ballots in this by-election.
“Six by-elections were scheduled, but only five took place. The sixth by-election scheduled for ward 4 Jozini municipality was postponed by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mrs Nomsa Dube-Ncube,” said Siphiwe Yeni of IEC.
He added that the turnout varied between 28 percent and 55 percent with an average of 38 percent.
Provincial ANC secretary Sihle Zikalala said that the ANC had increased support in two wards that were strongholds of other parties.
