By Johnathan Paoli
The African National Congress has retained its dominance in Mpumalanga after winning two closely watched by-elections in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri celebrated the results as another victory in the party’s road to recovery.
“Despite the challenges facing our movement, South Africans continue to trust us to lead and deliver. We thank the communities for their support and remain committed to serve with integrity,” she said.
The party not only held onto its seats in wards 18 and 31, but significantly increased its vote share in both, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) suffered a sharp decline and was overtaken by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party as the main challenger.
In Ward 18, which covers Vezubuhle and Thokozani near the R573 Moloto Road, Sifiso Innocent Mabena retained the seat for the ANC with 73.46% of the vote, which was well above the 60.79% it achieved in the 2021 local government elections.
Voter turnout stood at 34%.
The MKP placed second with 15%, edging out the EFF, which collapsed to just 9% compared to its 2021 showing of 15%.
The MKP’s strongest performance came at the Somsuswa Secondary School voting district, where it earned 30% of the vote and narrowed the ANC’s lead to just 27%.
The ANC’s vote there fell from 69% in 2021 to 57%.
While MK and the EFF each secured second place in two of the six voting districts, it was the Somsuswa tally that proved decisive, with MK beating the EFF by 120 votes in that district and by 122 votes overall.
Local party Ingubo Yeskethu, which had placed third in 2021, saw its support collapse to just 1%, while the Labour Party also garnered a mere 1%.
In Ward 31, encompassing Kwaggafontein D and E in Ekukhanyeni, the ANC’s Nkosinathi Dingaan Mahlangu won with 69.85% of the vote, a significant improvement from its 59.05% in 2021.
Voter turnout was stronger here at 46.63%.
The MKP again came second, securing 16% of the vote, while the EFF slid to 11% from its previous 30% high.
The MKP’s best showing was at Sinetjhudu Primary School, the most populous voting district, where it polled 29%. It beat the EFF by 139 votes in this district and by 111 votes overall.
The African Independent People’s Organisation saw its support halved to 2%, and the Labour Party managed only 1%.
Ingubo also posted 1%, continuing its decline.
The Thembisile Hani Municipality, situated in the northwestern corner of Mpumalanga in the former KwaNdebele homeland, is a strategic ANC stronghold.
It is part of the Nkangala District and includes notable towns such as Emalahleni, Middelburg and Siyabuswa.
The ANC currently controls 40 of the 62 seats in the local council, having won 30 of the 32 wards in 2021.
These by-election results signal continued dominance, but also highlight MK’s emergence as a viable contender in areas where the EFF once held promise.
The party said it would now turn its attention to another by-election on 18 June in the Thaba Chweu Municipality’s Sabie township, bolstered by its strong performance in Thembisile Hani.
With the EFF on the back foot and MK gaining ground, the political dynamics in Mpumalanga are shifting although the ANC remains firmly in control for now.
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