The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is fighting hard to keep its ward 13 in Umzumbe Local Municipality in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal ahead of Wednesday’s by-election.

On Sunday IFP deployed its big guns including president Velenkosini Hlabisa who was expected to deliver the keynote at the Siyanqoba rally in the local sportsfield.

The ward became vacant after the resignation of the IFP councillor Siyabonga Doncabe who joined the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).

The ward was highly contested by MKP which fielded Sphehelo Shezi while IFP placed its hope on Bakhanyile Shozi.

In the 39-seat council, IFP currently has 16 while its coalition partner ANC has 17. MKP, ATM, Apemo have one apart while EFF has two. The by-election will affect the balance of forces in the municipality regardless which party wins. However, all parties want to win to gauge their support ahead of the local government elections later this year.

Speaking on Sunday, MKP lone councillor in the municipality Sibonelo Maphumulo said he was hoping to win the ward to increase its support in the area and add to the number of councillors.

“We are wrapping up our campaign and we hope we will do well come Wednesday,” said Maphumulo.

Hlabisa had not addressed the gathering at the time of publishing, however, in a statement the party had issued earlier it said it was optimistic that it will retain the ward. The party said it will also focus on the other four by-elections in the north of the province. One is Abaqulusi Local Municipality in Vryheid while the three will take place in Nongoma, where three NFP councillors resigned.

Abaqulusi is under IFP while Nongoma is co-governed by the IFP and EFF coalition. In 2021 the municipality fell under NFP/ANC/EFF coalition, however, in July last year, EFF pulled out from the coalition and resuscitated its relationship with IFP.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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