ANC KZN spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said they were convinced that the by-election had not been fair, and this was the reason they would appeal the outcome. File Picture: African News Agency (ANA) Archives.
Durban - While the IFP yesterday hailed its by-election win as a sign of things to come in 2024, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said it would lodge a complaint with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
The ANC lost ward 12, Madlankala, which falls under uMhlathuze Municipality, to the IFP in the by-election that was held on Wednesday.
The uMhlathuze Municipality in northern KZN is run by the IFP which formed a coalition with other parties to push out the ANC.
According to the IEC, the IFP won the ward with 54.37% of votes cast compared with the ANC’s 43%. The votes totalled 4 078 and 41 were spoilt (1.01%).
The ward was previously held by the ANC, but the councillor resigned which led to the by-election.
ANC KZN spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said they were convinced that the by-election had not been fair, and this was the reason they would appeal the outcome.
“We have lodged a complaint with the IEC because of what we feel are serious transgressions that have taken place in the run-up to, and during these by-elections,” said Mndebele yesterday.
He accused the IFP of roping in the humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, to distribute food parcels, calling it an effort to sway the electorate’s allegiance.
The claim was denied by the IFP and Gift of the Givers. The humanitarian organisation said in a statement this week that it had an apolitical stance in assisting communities and that it had provided assistance in multiple areas where the predominant party was the ANC.
Mndebele also accused the IFP of campaigning inside the voting stations.
“It is the ANC’s contention that the IFP, in particular, must come clean and admit that they have established a well-resourced team to rig elections. If the IEC does not acknowledge our complaint, we will have no choice but to take the matter to the Electoral Court,” the ANC spokesperson said.
But IFP KZN chairperson Thami Ntuli said the party’s victory in the ward was proof that the people of KZN were desperate for change.
He said the voters were “rejecting the unethical and self-serving leadership that has come to characterise the ruling party”.
“Voters continue to reject the arrogant ANC, which no longer cares for the people of this province,” said Ntuli.
Over days, the area had been a hive of activity and on Sunday the two political parties held music concerts in a bid to drum up support. In addition to this, several MECs visited the area, bringing with them a range of projects that are set to benefit the local community.
The IFP, however, questioned the timing of the visits by the MECs, accusing the ANC of using provincial government muscle to garner support.
Asked about the allegation that the party campaigned inside voting stations, IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the accusation amounted to a political rant from a party that could not accept losing.
“What we are seeing amounts to a child throwing toys around because things are not going their way.
“Lodging a complaint frankly is a waste of the IEC’s and everyone else’s time.
“The ANC should just accept that losing a ward they have held since 1994 is a sign of the winds of change. People have made their choice and the ANC must live with that reality.”
University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu noted that the IFP had been clawing back its support from the ANC since last year’s local government elections, an effort which he said was gaining momentum.
“What we have seen is that the IFP has been regaining lost ground because if we recall KZN used to be its stronghold, it was then lost, and now it is clear that they are reclaiming their territory,” said the analyst.
Some of the reasons cited by Ndlovu for the IFP’s apparent comeback were:
the impact of former president Jacob Zuma’s absence in the political sphere and the ANC leadership’s perceived ill-treatment.
the failure of the ANC government to deliver on the promises made over the years.
the emergence of a new voting group made up mainly of young people that do not care about the ANC’s liberation credentials.
“Whether we care to admit it or not, ethnicity is still a factor in our body politic and there are people who will not vote for the ANC because he (President Cyril Ramaphosa) is not seen as one of their own,” the analyst continued.
Ndlovu said this week’s results should serve as a warning signal to the ANC about a possible power shift in the future. “Given the divisions that exist in the ANC right now and the amount of energy in the IFP’s campaign we could well see power changing hands come the 2024 general elections,” Ndlovu said.
IEC KZN’s Thabani Ngwira said the by-election went well with no incidents reported.
“There was nothing out of the ordinary with the by-election,” Ngwira emphasised. He added that they had not received any complaints related to the by-election.