The African National Congress (ANC) gained an overall majority in eThekwini municipality on Tuesday when six councillors took advantage of the floor-crossing legislation to join it.
The party said four of the councillors were from the Democratic Alliance (DA), one from the Independent People’s Party and the sixth was an independent from Ward 90.
The ANC, which previously had 95 of the 200 seats in the council and governed it with the support of 10 councillors belonging to the Minority Front (MF), now has 101 seats.
The municipality covers Durban, KwaMashu, Pinetown, Ispingo and Umkomaas, and operates on a R9,2-billion budget.
Welcoming the defections, ANC KwaZulu-Natal leader S’bu Ndebele said the new development would help speed up the delivery of services by the municipality.
”These defections send a clear message that an anti-ANC alliance can never work, simply because ordinary members of the IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) and DP (sic) will not accept it,” he said.
He said the ANC would strengthen its co-operation with the MF.
”This co-operation is not based on numbers but on our mutual belief that our co-operation will help cement the relations between African and Indian communities and bring about a better life for all.”
The ANC would also continue its co-operation with the New National Party (NNP), which would help close the ”yawning donga” between black and white in the metro. – Sapa