LIVE: Zululand Local Government Elections roundup

Stay up-to-date with the latest elections news from Zululand as it happens

August 3, 2016

4 minutes read

THE Local Government Elections went off without major incident today as residents are already flocked to various voting stations to cast their vote.

Have a look at our coverage below, that was updated throughout the day:

That’s a wrap! Voting stations around the country, and indeed Zululand, are now closed.

IEC uThungulu Regional Supervisor Thule Dlamini confirmed just moments ago that apart from a few small problems, no major incidents affected the voting process in the region today.

‘We did struggle quite a bit with the tents at some of our temporary voting stations as the wind picked up,’ she said.

Now, IEC officials will begin counting the votes and many will work through the nigh and well into Thursday and Friday.

Stay with us as we bring you results as soon as they are made available to us.

15 minutes to go! Are you still at a voting station? #LocalElections

— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) August 3, 2016

IFP and DA confident of winning back Zululand

The exclusion of the National Freedom Party (NFP) from the Local Government Elections has led the IFP in Zululand to believe they will win back the district.

At the same time, the DA in Ulundi says it believes it had secured the support it needs to take over through the NFP branches.

Zululand regional chair for the IFP Xolani Buthelezi was quoted in the media as saying they would definitely win all municipalities under the Zululand District Municipality that was in the past run by NFP-ANC coalitions.

‘They always had narrow margins, like in Ulundi and Msinga. We took Nkandla back when there was by-elections, we took Mtubatuba, Hlabisa – seven municipalities in total.

‘In Zululand, they had just two more councillors than us combined, now since they are in disarray like this voting for the DA and other parties, it is obvious, we are winning Zululand back,’ said Buthelezi.

Meanwhile, the DA in Ulundi is also confident after reports of a large number of NFP voters pledging support.

‘Our chances are big. It is the first time in our history that we compete in all the wards in Ulundi. We have seen exceptional growth and the people are showing support and love for the DA,’ said DA councillor candidate, Thabani Khumalo.

‘The DA is growing here in Ulundi and is a threat to other parties.

On the ground some of the people from NFP are promising to vote for the DA because they do not trust the ANC, they are showing a willingness to vote for the DA, they want to give us a chance,’ he said.

Just over 130 000 of the 478 000 registered voters in the uThungulu District visited voting stations around the region by 3pm.

This according to IEC officials, speaking during a visit by President Jacob Zuma at the Richards Bay IEC offices earlier this afternoon.

President Jacob Zuma has just arrived at the main campus of the University of Zululand in KwaDlangezwa.

Before that, he visited the IEC offices in Richards Bay and he is scheduled to visit areas in eSikhaleni later this afternoon.

‘Thank you to the IEC. So far the elections have gone smoothly with no major incidents. Without the IEC, we would have no democracy,’ Zuma said, speaking to the media and officials gathered in Richards Bay.

Pres. Jacob Zuma arrive at Unizulu & cheered by students @ANCKZN #Elections2016 pic.twitter.com/LZqR9ZqZw5

— Mdu Ncalane (@MduNcalane) August 3, 2016

Ulundi

Heavy winds in Ulundi and Nongoma where IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi cast his vote earlier today is currently an area of concern among IEC officials especially where tents have been erected as voting stations.

No issues were reported at eShowe (uMlalazi), Melmoth (Mthonjaneni Municipality) or at Ndundulu at the top of Melmoth Pass.

Buthelezi told the media he would be going home before travelling to observe voting in Nongoma later today.

IFP Leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi casts his vote @News24 pic.twitter.com/yCpfducYC1

— Kaveel Singh (@kaveels) August 3, 2016

The Independent Electoral Commission in the uThungulu District has asked Nkandla SAPS to investigate the origins of a threatening letter that has been doing the rounds at Nkandla voting stations.

A section of the letter reads: ‘If you have voted, tell your family to prepare the funeral.’

Read the full story and see the letter here.

President Jacob Zuma queuing to cast his vote at Ntolwane Primary School in Nkandla. pic.twitter.com/2G6qX7fU9c

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 3, 2016

Heuwelland Primary School, Empangeni

By 8am this morning more than 70 voters had already made their mark at the Ward 23 voting station at Heuwelland Primary School in Empangeni.

The voting station became relatively quiet after that, but was abuzz again just before 11am when former KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu and his wife, current uThungulu District Mayor Thembeka Mchunu arrived to cast their votes.

The IEC has proved to be a well oiled machine today, with only minor hiccups.

UThungulu District Mayor Thembeka Mchunu gets her thumb marked by IEC officials at Ward 23 in Empangeni. #LGE2016 pic.twitter.com/nsFhlng7JI

— Kyle Cowan (@CowansView) August 3, 2016

Former premier Senzo Mchunu arrives at Heuwelland Primary to cast his vote. #LGE2016 @ZOPublications pic.twitter.com/wKepIp8mhO

— Kyle Cowan (@CowansView) August 3, 2016

Our journalists have been up and about at voting stations throughout Zululand this morning.Make your mark.It counts#LGE2016 @ZOPublications

— Ronelle Ramsamy (@RonelleRamsamy) August 3, 2016

Meerensee Primary

It was smooth sailing at the Meerensee Primary School Voting Station with hardly any queues.

The ANC, DA and IFP set up party tents, which were hampered by the wind.

Presiding Officer, Liela van Zyl says they were on duty at 5.30 am and opened 7 am sharp.

Shortly before ten, they reported 300 voters through the polls.

Grantham Park Primary and Richem Secondary

Empangeni Civic Centre:

Qalakabusha

All quiet at Qalakabusha voting station…only five voted so far. #LGE2016 @ZOPublications

— Kyle Cowan (@CowansView) August 3, 2016

Arboretum

Voting was brisk in Arboretum when polling stations opened at 7am.

This group of early birds arrived at the Ward 3 station at John Ross College in high spirits, eager to get it over and done with to free the rest of the day for leisure activities.

Brackenham and Aquadene

Aquadene voting station was ready for early morning voters and voting got off to a great start with no delays or disruptions.

Presiding Officer at Aquadene Community Hall, Nokukhanya Ndlovu said they were prepared for their voters by 6.45am and so far the process has been smooth sailing.

At Brackenham Community Hall there were long queues by 8am as residents opted for an early start to make their mark.

Richards Bay SAPS members were visible at the voting stations in Ward 26 and were happy with the peaceful start to the election day