Durban — The IFP has continued with its winning streak in by-elections after snatching ward 28 from Team Sugar South Africa (TSSA) during the high-stakes by-elections on Wednesday in Newcastle.
After the hard-fought by-election battle, the IFP, led by Velenkosini Hlabisa, emerged victorious with 852 votes, followed by the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), bagging 613 votes.
The TSSA, which previously governed the ward teamed up with Julius Malema's EFF and scored 355 votes, while the struggling ANC managed 283, and Rise Mzansi only raked in 27.
The IFP's Johan Bhekinkosi Zwane is the new councillor of the ward that was previously led by Musa "Shukela" Thwala of TSSA.
The ward became vacant after Thwala was unceremoniously expelled from the TSSA, a party he formed after peeling away from the EFF. He legally fought his way back to the party, however, his ambitions of leading the ward again were dashed on Wednesday.
IFP deputy chairperson in KZN Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala was elated after the victory.
"The IFP in KZN wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the people of Ward 28 in Newcastle for their overwhelming support. The trust and confidence placed in the IFP by the voters is truly appreciated," he said.
He added: "The IFP is humbled by these results and is grateful to the people for remembering and honouring the legacy of the late IFP Founder and President Emeritus, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi."
The IFP was richly rewarded in the Umzumbe Local Municipality in southern KwaZulu-Natal following last month's by-elections where the IFP won three wards and equalled the number of seats with the ANC.
The ANC and IFP have agreed to co-govern the south coast municipality, with the IFP expected to take the deputy mayor position.
On Wednesday, the ANC told its deputy mayor Mhlengi Luthuli to resign to clear the way for a deputy mayor from the IFP.
It is also expected that the IFP will get the position of the speaker, which has been vacant ever since Sibonelo Maphumulo dumped the ANC and later joined the MKP. Maphumulo won ward 11 during last month's by-elections in Umzumbe Local Municipality.
Six candidates had thrown their hats in the ring for the contest of ward 28.
Despite its spirited campaign, the MKP failed to win the ward.
The rest of the candidates who contested the ward were: Praismon Buti Maya of the ANC, the EFF’s Banele Njabulo Kubheka, Johan Bhekinkosi Zwane of the IFP, and Ntokozo Floyd Sibisi of Rise Mzansi (RM).
Since the 2021 local government election, the IFP has relied on the support to govern the hung municipality, after dislodging the struggling ANC from the seat of power.
The IFP has cemented its grip after winning the ward.
Of the 67 seats in the council, the IFP has 22 seats, while the ANC has 18, the EFF has eight seats; Team Sugar has seven; the DA has five; ActionSA three; while the FF+, the NFP, the PA and the ATM have one each.
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