Durban — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is honing its spear ahead of the epic battle for control of ward 28 in Newcastle in the upcoming by-elections set for Wednesday.
Buoyed by the positive results of the May elections, MKP supporters are optimistic of a win on Wednesday.
MKP candidate Melusi Mhlongo has been criss-crossing the area to woo the voters.
He told the Daily News he is hopeful of a win.
“We have campaigned vigorously, and all is in the hands of the voters. But people have warmly received us, and I am hopeful we will take this ward,” said Mhlongo.
Six candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the contest of the ward that was previously governed by the prominent Team Sugar South Africa (TSSA) party, the EFF’s breakaway led by MKP’s Musa “Shukela” Thwala.
The ward became vacant after TSSA’s four councillors ganged up against Thwala and expelled him from the party over internal party divisions.
He was subsequently ousted as deputy mayor of Newcastle after four of his party –TSSA councillors – “betrayed” him and voted with the party’s coalition partner the IFP to remove him.
The council led by the IFP moved swiftly to declare the vacancy, leading to the by-elections on Wednesday.
However, Thwala dug in his heels and legally challenged his expulsion from the party, and now he has come to contest the ward again as a TSSA candidate.
While Thwala’s matter is still before the court, he was approved by the Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) to contest the by-election as a TSSA candidate.
Thwala said he would silence naysayers by winning them back.
“I will win this ward back come rain or shine. My enemies will be disappointed come Wednesday. I have campaigned and I am confident of a convincing victory,” said Thwala.
The rest of the candidates were Praismon Buti Maya of the ANC, the EFF’s Banele Njabulo Kubheka, Johan Bhekinkosi Zwane of the IFP, and Ntokozo Floyd Sibisi of Rise Mzansi (RM).
The IFP has relied on the backing of TSSA since the 2021 local government elections to govern the hung municipality, after dislodging the struggling ANC from the seat of power.
However, the IFP tightened its grip after winning three wards from the ANC during by-elections earlier this year. But the IFP still does not have an outright majority in the council despite being the majority party.
Of the 67 seats in the council, the party has 22 seats, up from 19, while the ANC has 18, down from 21 following the bruising defeat in the by-elections earlier this year.
The EFF has eight seats; Team Sugar has seven; the DA has five; ActionSA three; while the FF+, the NFP, the PA and the ATM have one each.
The voter turnout for this ward in the 2021 municipal elections was 39.46%.
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Daily News