The ANC has surprisingly bounced back and won the Ward 4 by-election under the Mpofana local municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with an overwhelming majority.
The victory of the former governing party comes after several electoral setbacks in the recent past in Mandeni, KwaDukuza, eThekwini and Richmond by-elections, which were won by its splinter party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), raising concerns about the party’s future prospects in the province.
The ANC retained the highly contested ward by defeating the IFP, MK Party, National Freedom Party (NFP), and the EFF after a fierce campaign where it was accused of using state resources to boost its fading electoral fortunes.
The ANC received 1 436 votes against the IFP’s 712 and MK Party’s 635, which performed badly after a well-coordinated campaign.
The by-election was called after France Malevu, an ANC councillor, died after a long illness. The new ward councillor is Makhosazane Bhengu.
The bad performers were the EFF and the NFP, which got less than 30 votes combined.
Commitment to service delivery
In a statement, the ANC’s provincial task team said the victory shows that the people of the ward still trust the party to prioritise their needs and aspirations.
It added that the victory is not just a political win but a profound endorsement of the party’s commitment to service delivery and community development.
“This outcome serves as a strong foundation for the ongoing renewal and strengthening of our structures to better serve communities,” said the ANC in a statement.
“We pay tribute to our dedicated volunteers and supporters who worked tirelessly on the ground, engaging with residents daily during the campaign, listening to their concerns, and responding with humility and resolve.
“Their effort helped reinforce our bond with the people and reminded us of the sacred responsibility we carry.”
