Despite emergence of MK, EFF confident of electoral growth in KZN

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it was confident it would improve on its previous electoral showing in KwaZulu-Natal, despite the threat of the Jacob Zuma-backed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. 

The latest Ipsos poll has revised its prediction for the EFF, placing it at 11.5%, from 19% in February. 

Ipsos says the emergence of the MK Party would chip away votes from the EFF, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. 

With 5.7 million registered voters, KwaZulu-Natal accounts for just over 20% of the country’s voter roll. 

Only Gauteng has more registered voters.

EFF leader, Julius Malema, said if the party did not grow in KwaZulu-Natal, it would undermine its overall election performance.

"We are a new organisation. There has always been two traditional parties in KZN - the ANC and the IFP - so to break that ground and be introduced as a new baby is not going to be an easy thing but we are making serious inroads."

The EFF recently hooked its deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, from KwaZulu-Natal and deployed its secretary general, Marshall Dlamini, to mobilise support in the province ahead of the elections.