MK Party rides the wave of success in by-elections with a decisive victory in Mandeni municipality

By Thebe Mabanga

The Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) continues to make waves in by elections, this time winning a seat in Mandeni within the iLembe District Municipality in Kwa Zulu Natal.

Over the past few months, MKP won seats off the ANC in the same district municipality in KwaDukuza and yet another in Pongola and last month won its first metro seat in Ward 110 in eThekwini, where it narrowly beat the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The MKP won the seat with 41.89% of the total votes cast. The IFP came second with 30% of the vote, up from 13 % in the 2021 Local Government Elections.

The ANC was the biggest loser as it saw its support collapse from 66% to 27% while the EFF saw a slide from 14% to just 1%.

Voter turnout was 48.18%.

Councillor Lindani Xhakaza won the seat, which became vacant following the tragic killing