The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday said 27 new councillors had joined its ranks since the start of the floor-crossing period on September 1. Most of the councillors were from the New National Party, Democratic Alliance and Inkatha Freedom Party.
ANC spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said the single biggest crossover happened on the South Coast where 12 people in the Ugu district joined the party, giving the ANC ”complete control” in that area.
He said now that incidents of intimidation, especially in the rural areas, were diminishing, people were no longer scared to support the ANC.
”They view the ANC as the vehicle of development which leads to a better life,” he said.
The party had lost one councillor to the IFP in the Mhlabuyalingana district near Maputoland.
The ANC was experiencing ”unprecedented growth” in KwaZulu-Natal and on Tuesday their leaders would be heading to Magoda in Richmond where 50 members of the United Democratic Movement, including the brother of late UDM leader Sifiso Nkabinde, would sign up with the ANC, Mthimkhulu said. – Sapa