Durban - The ANC is “feeling confident” of gaining more votes as the counting nears completion in Durban on Friday, despite the unprecedented surge in votes for the IFP, which may see it becoming the official opposition in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC at midday on Friday held 753 seats, the IFP 352 seats and the DA 107 seats.
KZN ANC spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli said the remaining votes which “remain uncounted are from the bigger areas, where we know we have unparalleled support.”
Commenting on the surge in support for the IFP in the north of KZN, Ntuli said the growth was due to the National Freedom Party being unable to participate, when it failed to pay its registration 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 spokesperson 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 reclaiming our position. We will comment further tomorrow [Saturday] when the final results come out.”
IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi has attributed his party’s success to its “honest” message to a disillusioned youth about not making false promises which could not be kept.
“I don’t try and promise them El Dorado - that everything will be fine,” said Buthelezi, adding that 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 feet.
“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.
The IFP will take control of Nongoma, Ulundi, Mthonjaneni, Msinga, Ntambanana, Mbabazane, Nkandla, Nquthu, Jozini and Mfolozi.
While counting was not yet complete, the primary metro of Ethekwini (Durban) should remain firmly under ANC control, followed by the DA which collected votes in areas such as Chatsworth and Phoenix, formerly the stronghold of the Minority Front.
IFP supporters celebrated in the streets on Thursday night after hearing about the party’s victory and at the IEC provincial electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said, “impromptu celebrations” were popping up among different party supporters and the celebrations were expected to increase over the weekend.
“The province remains stable and peaceful, and police remain on alert.
“There have been some impromptu celebrations and we are looking forward to more such celebrations tomorrow [Saturday],” said Mosery.
He confirmed that in spite of poor weather conditions on Wednesday, 62% of voters turned out, a 6% increase on the 2011 elections.
Election Bureau