ANC takes Zuma's ward from IFP
2011-05-19 20:43
Durban - The ANC has won the Nkandla ward, where President Jacob Zuma's homestead, is situated from the IFP.
The African National Congress won ward 14 with 53.9% of the vote (1 219 votes) over the Inkatha Freedom Party with only 16.28% (368).
The ward has been controlled by the IFP since the first democratic local government elections, and the party used to boast that it controlled a ward where the ANC president lived.
The IFP breakaway party, the National Freedom Party received 29.73% of the vote (673 votes).
According to results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Thursday, the ANC had won 14 of 16 local municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC won Richmond, Mooi Mpofana, uMngeni Vulamehlo, Ezinqoleni, Amajuba, Umzimkhulu, Kwa Sani, Danhauser, eMadlangeni, Newcastle, Escourt Umtshezi, Endumeni and Umvoti.
Those won by the IFP were Mthonjaneni municipality, incorporating Melmoth town, and Hlabisa municipality.
The ANC has 10 seats and the IFP has nine seats which puts the municipality in the category of hung municipalities.
The ANC does not have an outright majority in the Umvoti municipality.
IEC provincial chief Mawethu Mosery said seats had been allocated in all the municipalities where votes had been audited, and he was happy with the process so far.
"We have captured 72% of the entire votes in the province. We still have 20% to go, which constitutes 3 386 votes that have not been captured."
Of the captures votes, 7 729 had been audited and 4 544 had still to be audited, he said.
"The process of capturing will be completed by 20:00 [on Thursday]."
The IFP breakaway party, the National Freedom Party would be a kingmaker in a number of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, political analysts said on Thursday.
"It is true that politics is a cruel game. A party which was considered a non-entity has now emerged as a kingmaker," said Nhlanhla Mtaka.
The NFP could help other parties in the Umvoti, Mthonjaneni and Hlabisa municipalities get into more commanding positions during the formation of councils. This would be to the detriment of the IFP.
- SAPA
