ANC on the move in Zululand

The ANC have recorded gains in all of the five wards in the municipal by-elections held in Zululand on Wednesday. In the biggest turn-around, the ANC’s Gabriel VusumuziI Gumede won the Mthonjaneni ward with 56.53% of the votes. In the 2006 elections the IFP won the seat with a 57.16% majority. Sipho Sizwe Mtujane increased the ANC’s majority in the uMhlatuze Ward, beating IFP candidate Freedom Bongani Chili with a 73.01% majority. In the 2006 elections the ANC won the seat with a 55.39% majority. In the IFP heartland, the ANC also increased their votes in Nongoma and Ulundi. Nongoma saw the IFP vote drop from 92.24% to 74.68%, although with a much lower voter turnout of only 50.83% compared to 67.81% in 2006. In Ulundi, the IFP dropped from 81.02% to 61.84% also with a much reduced voter turnout of 46.6%. The ANC gained ground in the second seat contested in Mthonjaneni. Here Phumlani Emmanuel Ntombela of the IFP received 57.62% of the vote, compared to the IFP’s previous showing of 80.34% in the 2006 election. Once again the voter turnout was a disappointing 34.76% compared to 45.72% in 2006.

Results
Nongoma (Ward 52605011)
Patric Bhekikhaya Ngwenya (IFP) 1 401;
Magumuza Elliot Ntombela (ANC) 475

Ulundi (Ward 52606013)
Nkosinathi Mandlakhe Buthelezi (IFP) 932;
Zanele Siyaya (ANC) 346;
Cebolenkosi Tholinhlahla Gabela (Independent) 229;

Mthonjaneni (Ward 52805002)
Phumlani Emmanuel Ntombela (IFP) 586;
Selby Sibusiso Dlamini (ANC) 431.

Mthonjaneni (Ward 52805006)
Gabriel Vusumuzi Philani Gumede (ANC) 948;
Senzo Mzingezwi Mdima (IFP) 729.

uMhlathuze (Ward 52802018)
Sipho Sizwe Mthujane (ANC) 2 237;
Freedom Bongani Chili (IFP) 827.