IFP gains ground in Zululand region after by-elections

AS national and provincial governments plot the way forward, voters from several wards in Zululand and across KwaZulu-Natal went to the polls on Wednesday in a series of by-elections.

The IFP strengthened its footprint in the province after retaining two wards and winning a further five, while the ANC retained three, and the DA and MK gained one apiece.

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Cllr Lindelani Stuart Ntshangase retained Ward 15 under Pongola Municipality for the IFP after winning it by a convincing 53.19%.

This is, however, a drop from the party’s 57.92% victory in the same ward during the 2021 municipal elections.

Voter turnout for Wednesday’s by-election in Pongola was 52.38%.

The IFP retained Ward 11 under Nongoma Municipality when Cllr Bonisiwe Cebisile Mvelase won it after securing 44.74% of the vote.

This is compared with 58.26% during the 2021 municipal elections.

Voter turnout was 46.54%.

Meanwhile, IFP Cllr Mtuseni Emmanuel Ntenga took Ward 10 under Mthonjaneni Municipality from the ANC with 57.77% of the vote.

Voter turnout was 50.28%.

Elsewhere in KZN, the ANC retained three seats (wards 1 – 46.79% – and 3 – 47.92% – in uMzumbe Municipality, and Ward 1 in uMzumkhulu Municipality – 60.38%); the DA took Ward 5 under Newcastle Municipality from the ANC with 30.85% of the vote; MK took Ward 11 under uMzumbe Municipality from the ANC with 31.38% of the vote; the IFP took two seats from the ANC in uMzumbe Municipality (wards 9 – 45.35% – and 19 – 40.30%); the IFP won Ward 12 under Newcastle Municipality with 38.99% of the vote (previously held by the ANC); and the IFP won Ward 10 in uMvoti Municipality with 49.68% of the vote (previously held by the Abantu Batho Congress).

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