The ANC in Umkhanyakude district has vowed to retain its Ward 15 in Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality in the north-east of KwaZulu-Natal.
The ward was left vacant after the death of ward councillor Gidla Mdletshe a few months back, which resulted in the by-election tomorrow.
Speaking after wrapping up the party’s campaign on Tuesday, the regional chairperson, Simphile Mdaka, said he was adamant that the party would retain the ward, adding that by retaining it, the party will not only show it is regaining lost support but will also strengthen its bargaining power to negotiate for takeover or coalition with the IFP in the municipality.
Mdaka said his party is in ongoing talks with the National Freedom Party leadership, whose councillor defied the party and voted with the IFP instead of working with the ANC.
He said if the ANC retains the ward, it will be in a better position to negotiate for power sharing deal because if the NFP councillor changes his mind and votes with the ANC, both his party and IFP coalitions will tie on 20 seats, forcing a new power-sharing agreement with either small parties or IFP.
“We really need to retain our wards not only for renewal projects, but to also strengthen our bargaining power in the municipality as we are still pursuing the NFP councillor to come back and vote with us. Besides that, we want to finish the work which was started by our late comrade and also honour his legacy,” said Mdaka.
Umhlabuyalingana mayor Thembinkosi Khumalo, who is also an IFP member, laughed off the ANC’s hope of retaining the ward, saying there are many reasons why the IFP will snatch the ward from the ANC.
Khumalo stated that Ward 15 residents had been let down by Mdaka, who, as the district mayor, failed to provide them with water.
He said that forced the IFP-led Mhlabuyalingana Municipality to divert funds allocated for other services and used them to install boreholes for Ward 15 residents.
“We have gone out of our way to deliver services to Ward 15 residents, such as water, which are not our mandate. The ANC’s late councillor and Mdaka, who failed to deliver as the district mayor, have led Ward 15 residents to know who truly cares for them. Besides that, we want to increase our authority in the municipality so that we do not rely on small parties forever,” said Khumalo.
In the 39-seat council, ANC has 17, IFP 16, EFF two, DA, ACDP, NFP, and Independent candidates have one each. IFP controls the municipality by 20 seats with the help of small parties except the EFF, which is voting with the ANC to make 19.