Prior to Wednesday’s pivotal by-election, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the IFP will make their final attempts to win over voters in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal.
The IFP will be attempting to make amends after coming under fire for endorsing the now-cancelled 2025–2026 budget with a value-added tax increase, while the Jacob Zuma-led MK Party will be going to the polls with a boost after defeating the DA in Ward 110 in Durban nearly two weeks ago.
To emphasise its goal of winning the ward it previously ran, the IFP sent nearly all of its national and provincial leaders.
Velenkosini Hlabisa, the party president, and Thami Ntuli, the KwaZulu party chairperson, were among those present to campaign.
Speaking to a crowded audience, Ntuli made fun of the MK Party, telling them that voters should not be duped by the party’s recent rebranding and departure from the ANC.
Guptas are still in charge
“We were all along thinking that we were led by our people from South Africa, only to find that we were led by the Guptas, who had free rein on our finances. That is why we are so impoverished.
“Make no mistake, only the colour of the T-shirt has changed; the Guptas are still in charge; don’t be fooled,” Ntuli said in reference to the allegations that the Gupta family captured the state under Zuma and poverty spiralled out of control.
Hlabisa, who was delivering the party’s final message, declared that the residents would “liberate” themselves on Wednesday by “voting wisely”.
“Yesterday [Sunday] was the country’s freedom day; Wednesday should be the day for liberation for this ward to be led by the party that once led it. This will help residents to have listening leadership and have services.”
In a last-ditch effort to win over voters, the MK Party invited actor Sibonile Ngubane and Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma to publicly support the party’s candidate in the ward.
