AN INTENSE showdown is expected in Wednesday’s by-election in Ward 2 Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal, where five rival political parties are set to battle it out for control.
The ANC, which controlled the ward previously, would attempt to hold onto power and fend off its opponents, such as the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), the IFP, the EFF and Patriotic Alliance (PA).
According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the ward had 6744 registered voters and four voting districts.
Ahead of the contest, political parties deployed their bigwigs to the midlands town to woo voters.
Last Thursday, Siboniso Duma, the former ANC provincial chairperson, now second deputy provincial coordinator in the party’s reconfigured structure, embarked on a door-to-door campaign.
Not leaving anything to chance, the ANC Youth League provincial executive committee (PEC) members, led by provincial chairperson Ntokozo Ngcobo, also held a community meeting in the ward.
Also present at the community meeting were members from the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), police minister Senzo Mchunu, ANC Moses Mabhida Regional Chairperson Mzi Tebola, and the Richmond Municipality’s leadership.
During his speech, Mchunu promised to rid the country of rampant crime and “put the issue of crime and service delivery on top of my agenda”.
“We want to ensure that we rid the country of rampant crime. We will continue to fight to ensure that our country is a safe place to live,” said Mchunu.
Meanwhile, the MKP has also launched a vigorous campaign under the stewardship of Bongani Baloyi, the head of elections, as they shake off being in the shadows of a previous loss in Ward 2 in the Msunduzi Municipality’s jurisdiction.
Following internal strife within the party, provincial coordinator Willies Mchunu assured attendees at a community meeting that the party would respect the will of the voters in nominating their preferred candidate this time around.
Learning from the previous tactical blunders, Mchunu said that during a recent meeting they decided to adopt the stance of siding with community’s preferred candidate to stand for election during the by-election, also on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, the MKP was torn between two warring factions in the Moses Mabhida region after the party failed to win the by-election in Msunduzi’s Ward 2.
Mchunu was heavily criticised for the loss, with insiders claiming that he imposed the ward candidate against the candidate who was chosen by the community.
However, things will change this time around, proclaimed Mchunu.
“We will allow you to choose the person you want to stand as a ward candidate. This is how we will be doing things as we move forward,” said Mchunu.
No less active is the IFP, with its provincial deputy chairperson Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala leading canvassing efforts across Ward 2.
The candidate line-up for the by-elections features Thembinkosi Ntunzela from the IFP, Rosemary Sizakele Shange from the ANC, Deron Sithole representing the EFF, Amahle McKenzie from the Patriotic Alliance, and the MKP’s Msizi Dlamini.
While a shift in the political landscape is unlikely to occur within the ANC-dominated local municipality, where the party currently holds a commanding nine seats as compared to the EFF’s two, any victories by competing parties could serve as a vital confidence boost ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The IEC announced that all systems were in place for the anticipated elections, and votes will be counted with results expected by Wednesday evening.
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995
DAILY NEWS
