South Africa’s ruling ANC romped home in a municipal by-election in KwaDukuza/Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal held on Wednesday. It raised its percentage of the vote from just over 60% in the previous election in the ward to over 90%, according to the Independent Electoral Commission.
The ANC’s main opponent, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), polled just over 8% of the vote — or 171 votes — to the ANC’s 1 904 votes or 90,5%.
The percentage poll — at 47,9% — was a reasonably high one for a municipal by-election. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) polled just 27 votes or 1,28%. The total number of votes cast was 2 102.
Tensions rose in the ward after the IFP — traditionally the ANC’s main rival in the province — reported that its campaign manager had been killed at his home in the area on Tuesday.
The ANC won the ward with 60,5% of the vote — or 980 votes — in the 2000 general municipal election in a 56,3% poll.
An independent polled 19,5% or 317 votes, while the Democratic Alliance gained 12,9% or 209 votes. The IFP polled just 4,9% last time or 80 votes while the Minority Front polled only 33 votes or 2,04%. The ACDP was a newcomer to Wednesday’s race. – I-Net Bridge