Wild card NFP upsets KZN power dynamic

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal confirmed that results from 30 of the 61 municipalities in the province had been audited and finalised.

The results reflected several outright victories for the African National Congress (ANC) but also municipalities where horse-trading over coalitions will begin as the newly formed National Freedom Party (NFP) gleaned votes from the haemorrhaging Inkatha Freedom Party.

Voice of the minority

As results of the local government elections streamed in it became increasingly obvious that this election was becoming a war between the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance. The Mail&Guardian asked smaller parties what they thought about the possibility of coalitions and if they thought South Africa was becoming a two-party state.

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In President Jacob Zuma’s hometown of Nkandla, which has been run by the IFP since 1996, the IFP edged out its rivals with 46% of the vote and 13 council seats. However, it was closely followed by the ANC (41% of the vote and 11 seats) which could potentially form a majority with the NFP (which won 12.6% of the vote and three seats) and thus trump their long-time rivals. Such a move would have the symbolic effect of placing the President Zuma’s home in ANC hands.

Of the 31 municipalities it had controlled going into this local government elections, the IFP had managed to defend Hlabisa and Melmoth at the time of going to press.

But the ANC won formerly IFP-controlled towns, including Umvoti, Dannhauser, Utrecht, Estcourt, Endumeni, Okhahlamba, Imbabazane and the Amajuba district municipality.

The KwaZulu-Natal IEC was close to completing its data capturing and auditing of votes on Thursday night with provincial commissioner Mawethu Mosery saying that 11 000 wards had been processed. In total 1 273 wards were outstanding by 7pm on Thursday.

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