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ANC and MKP set for another brusing battle in by-elections
10 Jun 2024 at 13:52hrs | Views
The African National Congress (ANC) and the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) are set for a significant political confrontation in upcoming by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, June 19.
Twelve by-elections are scheduled, with six taking place in Umzumbe Local Municipality on the south coast. Former ANC councillors, now MKP candidates, aim to challenge their old party.
These former ANC members were expelled for colluding with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) to remove ANC mayor Bongani Nyuswa, a decision later overturned by the courts, reinstating Nyuswa. This political clash will determine the future leadership of Umzumbe under the Ugu District Municipality.
Currently, the ANC holds 21 of the 39 council seats, while the IFP has 14, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) two, and the African People's Movement (Apemo) and African Transformation Movement (ATM) each have one. If the ANC loses all six wards, a coalition of MKP, IFP, EFF, and ATM could potentially oust Nyuswa through a vote of no confidence.
Leading the MKP is Sbonelo Maphumulo, a former ANC speaker of Umzumbe Local Municipality and member of the influential Maphumulo family. Expelled for plotting against Nyuswa, Maphumulo is confident in securing a win in ward 11, a seat he once held.
Maphumulo criticized the ANC for poor governance, expressing the need for new leadership to revive the municipality. He suggested that the MKP would consider motions against the current mayor based on the by-election results.
Twelve by-elections are scheduled, with six taking place in Umzumbe Local Municipality on the south coast. Former ANC councillors, now MKP candidates, aim to challenge their old party.
These former ANC members were expelled for colluding with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) to remove ANC mayor Bongani Nyuswa, a decision later overturned by the courts, reinstating Nyuswa. This political clash will determine the future leadership of Umzumbe under the Ugu District Municipality.
Currently, the ANC holds 21 of the 39 council seats, while the IFP has 14, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) two, and the African People's Movement (Apemo) and African Transformation Movement (ATM) each have one. If the ANC loses all six wards, a coalition of MKP, IFP, EFF, and ATM could potentially oust Nyuswa through a vote of no confidence.
Leading the MKP is Sbonelo Maphumulo, a former ANC speaker of Umzumbe Local Municipality and member of the influential Maphumulo family. Expelled for plotting against Nyuswa, Maphumulo is confident in securing a win in ward 11, a seat he once held.
Maphumulo criticized the ANC for poor governance, expressing the need for new leadership to revive the municipality. He suggested that the MKP would consider motions against the current mayor based on the by-election results.
Source - Daily News
