Floor-crossing politicians managed to shift the majority party in control in 12 of the country’s 128 municipalities during the two-week crossing period, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Wednesday.
Figures released by the IEC showed that the African National Congress (ANC) gained majority control of the Ezimgpleni (Isingolweni) council from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the Ndwedwe council — which had no majority.
It also became the majority party in the Drakenstein (Paarl), Cape Agulhas (Bredasdorp) and Knysna councils in the Western Cape, all of which had no majority.
However, the party lost its majority in the Mooi Mpofana (Moorivier) council as well as the Karoo Hoogland (Frasersburg) and Mamusa (Schweizer Reneke) councils, all of which now have no majority ruling party.
The IFP became the majority party in the Mtubatuba council where there was no majority and lost its majority in Abaqulusi (Vryheid), which also had no majority.
The newly formed National People’s Party is now the majority in the Kannaland (Ladismith) council in the Western Cape, and the Democratic Alliance became the majority party in Mossel Bay. Both councils previously had no majority.
”Overall trends that emerged during the floor-crossing included councillors moving from existing smaller parties to join bigger parties and independent councillors joining political parties,” said Pansy Tlakulu, IEC chief electoral officer.
The ANC gained the most councillors, the IEC figures showed.
The newly formed African People’s Convention made the second-largest overall gain with 36 new councillors, followed by another new party, the National People’s Party, with 31.
The ANC gained 53 of the 250 municipal councillors who crossed the floor in the 128 municipalities across the country.
The Pan Africanist Congress suffered the greatest loss with 41 councillors deserting it, while the Independent Democrats lost 27 councillors and the National Democratic Convention 22. — Sapa