 in Mkhondo Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, while the IFP successfully defended Ward 17 (Mningi Biliya) in uMfolozi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.){kind=link}
By Johnathan Paoli
The ANC has ended the 2025 by-election season on a high note after decisively winning back Ward 14 (Harmony Park) in Mkhondo Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, while the IFP successfully defended Ward 17 (Mningi Biliya) in uMfolozi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
In Mkhondo, the ANC secured a commanding 54% of the vote, a significant improvement from the 38% it achieved in the previous contest.
The victory marks a major turnaround for the governing party, which reclaimed the ward from an independent councillor affiliated with the Democratic Native Congress, who had previously garnered 45% of the vote but did not feature prominently this time around.
The MKP finished second with 36%, while the EFF remained stagnant at 4%.
Voter turnout dipped slightly to 44%, down from 46% in the previous election, a trend consistent with by-elections nationwide.
The result is particularly significant for the ANC, which not only regained the seat but also continued its dominance in the municipality, having now won all 11 by-elections contested in Mkhondo.
The outcome also saw the ANC outperform the MKP in a locality where the latter has sought to establish itself as a serious electoral contender.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula welcomed the result, describing it as proof that voters respond positively when the party reconnects with communities. “Renewal in action and evidence that with an ANC that responds to the people’s needs, the people respond by coming back home to the ANC. The end of year we all wanted,” Mbalula said.
In contrast, northern KwaZulu-Natal told a different story, with the IFP consolidating its rural base in Ward 17 of uMfolozi Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District. The IFP won the ward with 62% of the vote, up from 51% previously, strengthening its foothold in the region.
The MK Party placed second with 21%, while the ANC suffered a dramatic decline, slumping from 42% in the previous election to just 16%. Voter turnout rose to 51%, up from 47%, suggesting heightened political mobilisation in the area.
The result reinforces the IFP’s growing momentum in King Cetshwayo, where it has consistently positioned itself as the dominant alternative to the ANC, particularly in rural wards. The party successfully fended off challenges from both the ANC and MK, highlighting its continued relevance and organisational strength in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
With these contests concluded, the IEC confirmed that the 2025 by-election season has officially come to an end. The next round of by-elections is scheduled for 21 January 2026, with wards set to be contested in George in the Western Cape and Tshwane in Gauteng.
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