IFP continues to chip away at the ANC in KZN
The IFP has won four seats off the ANC in Newcastle and an independent analyst predicts they can do much worse to the ruling party.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) took three wards off the ANC in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), in the recent by-elections contested on 13 March in KZN and Gauteng and North West provinces to become the largest party in the Newcastle council.
According to an independent political analyst, the IFP took a ward off the ANC in February to consolidate its hold on the mayoral chain. The IFP is supported by a local party, Team Sugar, the DA, ActionSA, and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).
“The new seat allocation in the 67-seat council is IFP 22 (19) ANC 18 (21) EFF 8 Team Sugar 7 DA 5 Action SA 3 FF+ 1 NFP 1 PA 1 ATM 1. The ruling coalition has 38 of the 67 seats now. The IFP has now won four consecutive seats off the ANC in Newcastle in 2024,” said Wayne Sussman, a political analyst in the Daily Maverick.
NO MK PARTY IN FOUR KZN BY-ELECTION – SAYS ANALYST
Sussman said Newcastle is the largest municipality in the Amajuba District and is one of the critical centers of economic activity in northern KZN. The IFP has won four consecutive seats off the ANC in Newcastle in 2024.
“There were four by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal. None of them included the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party,” he said.
“Despite its ominous absence, it was still important to see how these by-elections affected the seat allocation of the respective councils and how parties like the ANC, IFP, EFF, and Team Sugar are readying themselves for the MK election foray.”
“It was also important to consider voter turnout and whether MK sympathisers might cast their vote for independent candidates in two Newcastle wards,” Sussman added.
‘FORMER ANC WARD COUNCILLOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR RESIGNED’
He said that the ANC ward councillor who served as deputy mayor of Newcastle in the previous council term of office resigned from the council.
“The ANC, IFP, EFF, and Team Sugar were joined by an independent regional party, the African People’s Movement (APEMO), and the Truth and Solidarity Movement (TRUTH) on the ballot. The voters’ roll grew by 10% between the local government elections and this by-election,” Sussman explained.
According to the Sunday World, political analyst Matlala Setlhalogile said the MK party would not make any significant impact nationally besides its stronghold of KZN.
“While the MK is likely to have notable electoral success in KZN, potentially even a double-digit percentage outcome, they are by no means a strong contender in the upcoming general elections,” Setlhalogile said.
“The MK is unlikely to make any significant inroads outside KZN. With that said, there’s two months to go before elections; a lot could change that might impact the success of various parties.” Setlhalogile added.
The next round of by-elections will be on 24 April, when there will be three in Gauteng, three in KwaZulu-Natal, three in the Western Cape, two in the Eastern Cape, and one each in Limpopo, North West, and the Northern Cape.