Wins and losses - a mixed bag for MK Party in KZN by-elections
The MK party won a KZN ward but lost others in local by-elections.
FILE: Members of the MK Party sing and chant outside the Constitutional Court hearing in Johannesburg on 10 May 2024 over their leader and former President Jacob Zuma’s eligibility to stand for Parliament. Picture: AFP
John Perlman speaks to elections analyst Wayne Sussman about the MK party's by-election victories in KZN wards.
Listen below.
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The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has secured a second councillor in KwaZulu-Natal (its third overall), after winning by-elections in Ward 14 in KwaMadlala.
Eleven by-elections took place in parts of the province on Wednesday, mostly contested by the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), MK Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
MK's Pat Madlala got 51% of the votes in Ward 14 in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, snatching the ward from the ANC in the lower south coast of the province.
"They've now won three by-elections and that obviously builds momentum..."
- Wayne Sussman, Elections analyst
"I expected for MK - looking at the percentages they got in places where they got over 50% of the vote in May - for that momentum from May to continue, but they were unable to win these wards in the by-election. It doesn't add up."
- Wayne Sussman, Elections analyst
"They lost, essentially almost half of the support they got in some of the more rural wards."
- Wayne Sussman, Elections analyst
Sussman says it's been a mixed bag for Jacob Zuma's party.
In May, he says, in the DA stronghold of Glenwood Umbilo in Durban, MK secured 26% of the vote but managed just 14% in the by-election.
"So you're seeing them, on one hand, win a ward, which is very impressive, but having less than satisfactory results in other parts of the province."
- Wayne Sussman, Elections analyst
The MK Party was unable to unseat the Inkatha Freedom Party in Nkandla, signalling the strong support the IFP retains in that region.
It is significant, given Zuma's connection to the area, says Perlman.
And for another reason, counters Sussman.
"It is the home municipality of the KZN Premier and IFP provincial leader, so this is one of the reasons I think the IPF is strong in Nkandla."
- Wayne Sussman, Elections analyst
Despite being unable to unseat the IFP, Sussman says the MK Party performed better in opposition in the region than the ANC.
"The ANC have only got 6% in the by-election, a very disappointing result and that would worry the ANC that they are losing so much ground and would give the MK Party some hope."
- Wayne Sussman, Elections analyst
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.