Battle hots up for rich KZN municipality
2011-04-30 11:02
Durban - Political parties are pulling out all stops to ensure they garner enough votes to gain control of the Umhlathuze Municipality, the second richest municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
The African National Congress snatched the municipality from the Inkatha Freedom Party during the now abolished controversial 15-day floor crossing window period in 2006.
The Umhlathuze Municipality, incorporating Empangeni and Richards Bay, had been controlled by the IFP since the advent of the local sphere of government in 1996.
The ANC won 28 seats and the IFP won 24 seats in the 1996 elections.
The ANC then formed an alliance with the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) which had two seats, and the IFP aligned itself with the Democratic Alliance with four seats, and another two small parties which had one vote each.
This meant that the IFP and ANC had expected to have 30 votes each, but it never happened that way.
Instead, a member of the ANC coalition decided to vote for the IFP led coalition, giving the ANC 29 votes and the IFP 31.
The ANC got the opportunity to govern the municipality when two councillors from the African Christian Democratic Party and the DA crossed to it during the 2006 floor crossing period.
This left the ANC with 30 seats and the IFP coalition, which included the DA and the Freedom Front Plus, with 29 seats.
Now, both the ANC and IFP believe they stand a good chance of gaining control of the aspirant metropolitan council.
Buthelezi optimistic
Although the IFP has been hurt by the formation of a breakaway party, its leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi was optimistic his party would win the Umhlathuze Municipality.
“It [Umhlathuze Municipality] is one of the municipalities that we want to win at all costs. I am busy campaigning in Richards Bay today [Friday],” Buthelezi told Sapa.
He admitted that the formation of the National Freedom Party had divided potential voters. Buthelezi, who strongly opposed floor crossing, said it was unfortunate that his party lost the municipality this way.
The ANC also holds high hopes in the upcoming local elections on May 18.
Thulani Mashaba, the ANC secretary in the Uthungulu region, said there was no doubt his party would cement its control of the municipality.
“The fact that we won a by-election from the IFP shows that we have a better chance of winning. We are looking for more wards and proportional representation seats.”
Problems in the IFP worked to their advantage, he said.
Mashaba said his party had managed to get the support of the white community who previously voted for the DA.
“The support we got during our walkabout during the Freedom Day was overwhelming. It shows that our election manifesto speaks directly to the residents.”
- SAPA