ANC wins uMhlathuze, final results show
ANC retains City of uMhlathuze as opposition strength shows marginal growth
THE people of uMhlathuze have spoken.
Just before 2pm today uMhlathuze Municipal Manager Dr Nhlanhla Sibeko announced that the African National Congress will again govern the city for the next five years.
The official results will be made available by the IEC tomorrow (Saturday).
While it was a resounding win for the ANC, who increased its support through the addition of three wards from the now dissolved Ntambanana Municipality, the voice of the opposition has grown louder.
Support for the IFP increased by 1.81% from 17% in 2011 to 18.81% in 2016 giving them 13 seats.
The party also benefitted from the new wards, claiming Ward 33, which will be the only IFP run ward in the city.
The DA is up by 1.65% from 9.92% in 2011 to 11.57% in 2016.
Newcomers the EFF, standing in the party’s first local government elections, received 3.68% of the vote.
‘This is the final lap on a long road that started with preparatory meetings over the past year.
‘Thanks to the co-operation of all parties and independent candidates as well as the good work of the IEC, voting was done, ballots were counted, signed off and audited – a long and thorough process done openly in front of all,’ said Sibeko.
The results are as follows:
The ANC has retained control of Wards 4 and 6 through to 22 as well as 24, 25, 26, 32 and 34, while gaining Ward 1, wrestled away from the DA, and Ward 5, taken from the IFP.
Two of the three new wards, 31 and 32, has also been won by the ANC.
Wards 2, 3 and 23 were won by the DA earning them 8 seats.
While the EFF did not win any wards outright, it’s vote percentage did earn the party three seats in council.
‘We are quite humbled by the results and happy that the people of uMhlathuze have shown confidence in the direction that the ANC has taken in this municipality,’ said re-elected city Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo.
‘There is always an opportunity for us to reflect on what has happened, and I think we will do that, so that we can find the correct way forward in what it is we can do better going forward.
For many IEC officials in the district, the hard work is now over.
‘Our work is done – now go and sleep!’ quipped Sibeko.
ZO Editor Dave Savides caught up with newly re-elected City Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo. Here’s what he had to say:
