Former president Jacob Zuma walked to a loud and cheering applause as he made his way to Ntolwane Primary School in his ancestral village of Kwanxamalala in eNkandla, northern KZN, where he cast his vote.
It was for the first time that Zuma, a native of Nkandla, cast his vote under a new party, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, a strong opponent of the governing ANC.
His popularity and presence in the area over the years has not often translated to votes for the ANC. The ward and the local municipality are governed by the IFP.
Flanked by MK Party supporters
Zuma entered the polling station flanked by MK Party supporters. His protectors had to push through the strong contingent of the mob. Some were clad in party regalia, while others were ordinary villagers there to cast their vote.
Zuma smiled and waved at the supporters of different political parties, saying ”Ay sinibonga kakhulu” an IsiZulu phrase meaning “We thank you very much”.
The former head of state subsequently made his way to the venue before being escorted out by members of the presidential protection unit.
A few kilometres away in the Vumanhlavu Primary, IFP premier hopeful Thami Ntuli also cast his vote. Zuma and Ntuli are the two prominent political figures of the rural village of Nkandla. The region was instrumental in the anti-land invasion against colonial forces.
IFP confident of victory
Ntuli believes the IFP stands a good chance of recording an outright majority.
“We have mobilised well. It’s now up to the people of KwaZulu-Natal to give the IFP a chance,” he said.
ANC chairperson Siboniso Duma also voted at Kloof Methodist Church in Durban. There he repeated his affirmation that “the ANC will reclaim the province”.
The IFP, DA, MK, EFF and other smaller parties are ganging up in their effort to put end to ANC’s dominance in the province. In the last elections in 2019, the party’s support in KZN plummeted to a meagre 54%. For the first time the ANC faces real prospects of losing power in one of its important and biggest provinces.
