IFP gains cause shockwaves in KZN

Durban 05-08-2016 At IEC ICC, ANC PEC member Mxolisi Kaunda, ANC spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli and DA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango. Picture by: Sibonelo Ngcobo

Durban 05-08-2016 At IEC ICC, ANC PEC member Mxolisi Kaunda, ANC spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli and DA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango. Picture by: Sibonelo Ngcobo

Published Aug 6, 2016

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Durban - The ANC has dominated the municipal elections in KwaZulu-Natal, but the surprise package was the re-emergence of the IFP in the north.

On Friday night, provincial figures saw the ANC comfortably leading the pack with 57.47 percent, followed by the IFP at 18.39 percent and the DA at 15.17 percent.

While the IFP caused shock waves in Zululand - taking Nongoma, Ulundi, Nkandla, Mthonjaneni, Msinga, Ntambanana, Mbabazane, Nquthu, Jozini and Mfolozi - eThekwini metro remains firmly under the ANC's reins, with the party winning 57.53 percent of the vote, followed by the DA with 27.85 percent, the IFP with 4.57 percent and the EFF with 3.44 percent.

Commenting on the surge in support for the IFP in the north of the province, the ANC's KZN spokesman, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said the growth was due to the National Freedom Party being unable to participate in the poll, when it failed to pay its deposit in time to participate in the elections.

“In Ulundi, Nkandla and Nongoma, they chose to go back to the IFP.

“The younger generation would go with the ANC. The votes came from the older generation stuck in the past,” said Ntuli.

But IFP spokesman Joshua Mazibuko dismissed Ntuli’s remarks, saying: “Anyone who has been to our rallies has seen the young people there. Obviously, we are happy with these results and are reclaiming our position.

“We will comment further tomorrow, when the official results are announced.”

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has attributed his party’s success to its “honest” message to a disillusioned youth about not making false promises that could not be kept.

Message sinks in

“I don’t try and promise them El Dorado - that everything will be fine,” said Buthelezi, adding that this message was “beginning to sink in with young people”.

DA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango also put the swelling of the IFP vote firmly at the NFP’s door.

“There is no doubt that the success of the IFP is due to the NFP’s difficulties. Those municipalities were governed by the IFP before the split.

“People vote with their emotions. Maybe those voters who moved to the NFP moved back again. Overall, ANC voters are losing confidence in the ANC,” said Mncwango.

Last night, Lukhona Mnguni, a political analyst at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said that, while the IFP had made significant gains, these were only in Zululand, not in the larger metro area.

“The dismissal of the NFP paved the way for the IFP. It would not have been easy for an NFP supporter to vote for the ANC, for historic reasons. The IFP have also been working very hard to win back their constituents.

“But when all is said and done, the excitement about the resurgence of the IFP is a bit overstated.

“The IFP only holds 4.2 percent in eThekwini, while the DA has 27 percent. This does not make the IFP the comeback kid,” said Lukhona.

And while eThekwini remains firmly under ANC control, the DA picked up votes in areas such as Chatsworth and Phoenix, formerly strongholds of the Minority Front.

IFP supporters celebrated in the streets on Thursday night after hearing of the party’s win, and at the IEC media briefing yesterday morning.

Provincial electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said “impromptu celebrations” were popping up among different party supporters in a celebratory mood, and this was expected to increase over the weekend.

He added that police would remain on alert throughout the province.

He said that one objection had been received regarding the poll, which would be sent to the IEC's national office.

In spite of poor weather later on Wednesday, there was a voter turnout of 62 percent in the province, which was a 6 percent increase on the 2011 elections.

Independent on Saturday

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