KwaZulu-Natal is gearing up for high-stakes by-elections next Wednesday, with the ANC pulling out all stops to reclaim Ward 2 under Msunduzi Local Municipality from the IFP.
On Tuesday, ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile spearheaded the party’s campaign in an attempt to regain voter support in a ward that has seen dramatic political shifts in recent months.
Mashatile’s visit included a closed-door meeting with Inkosi Khethokuhle Zondi at the Mpumuza Royal Palace, followed by media engagements in KwaMpumuza, Pietermaritzburg.
Mashatile launched his campaign with a robust door-to-door drive within the KwaMpumuza Traditional Authority, engaging directly with residents to galvanize support.
He emphasized the importance of free and fair elections, urging all parties to maintain peace at voting stations.
“We want to see a free and fair election. Everyone should feel free to vote for their candidate of choice. Democracy is about electing the candidate wanted by the majority,” Mashatile said.
“The ANC in KZN and nationally is bouncing back in the latest by-elections, showing that the party is regaining lost ground.”
The ward councillor position became vacant after the IFP expelled its former councillor, Sibusiso Ntuli, last month.
This by-election is a crucial battleground for the ANC, which lost control of the ward to the IFP in a by-election last year following the passing of ANC councillor Phumlani Gabuza.
Both the IFP and the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) present formidable challenges for the ANC, highlighting the fiercely contested nature of the election.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, DA Msunduzi caucus leader Ross Strachan criticized the cancellation of the final Full Council meeting of the year, demanding answers from Council Speaker Eunice Majola.
Strachan expressed outrage over the eleventh-hour cancellation, which occurred without any communication regarding its rescheduling.
“We demand a full investigation into the lack of accountability and due process surrounding this cancellation. It is alleged that the ANC in the Moses Mabhida region opted to cancel the meeting to focus on campaigning for the hotly contested Ward 2 by-election in Sweetwaters, set for Wednesday, 18 December 2024,” Strachan stated.
He further condemned the alleged motives behind the cancellation.
“If this is true, it would be an insult to the residents of Msunduzi. A ‘win at all costs’ agenda comes at the expense of the City and its responsibilities.”
Strachan highlighted the ongoing crisis in Msunduzi, citing deteriorating service delivery and leadership failures.
“This City needs stability and galvanized leadership that prioritizes residents over political interests. The ANC, with its slim majority propped up by minority parties, is driving the City deeper into decay,” he added.
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