MK Party wins Richmond and leads in two other KwaZulu-Natal municipalities

The MK Party has secured victories in three KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, including wresting control of previously IFP- and ANC-led councils, as the province's election results continue to come in.

The MK Party has secured victories in three KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, including wresting control of previously IFP- and ANC-led councils, as the province's election results continue to come in.

According to the party, it has won Richmond Municipality and emerged as the leading party in Endumeni, while results in eMadlangeni remain subject to confirmation.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) earlier confirmed that political parties had an overview of the results while commission is still capturing and auditing the results.

By 1pm, the IEC had confirmed that voting had been completed at all polling stations across the province, with officials continuing to capture and audit the results. In Richmond Municipality, the MK Party secured a decisive victory, obtaining 59.06% of the vote and 10 seats.

The ANC, which previously led the municipality, came second with 31.64%, securing five seats. In Endumeni Municipality, the MK Party emerged as the leading party with 33.69% of the vote, securing five council seats.

The IFP, which previously led the municipality, came second with 25.44% and four seats, followed by the DA with 16.34% and two seats.

The ANC and VF Plus each secured one seat, with 5.53% and 5.44% of the vote respectively. MK Party provincial spokesperson Mkhuseli Mlengane welcomed the results, thanking voters for their support and pledging that their confidence in the party would not be misplaced.

“We thank the people of KwaZulu-Natal for their support and we assure them that it will not go in vain,” Mlengane said.

Acknowledging the challenges facing municipalities the party is set to take over, Mlengane pointed to eNdumeni's financial and governance difficulties, including its failure to pass a budget.

He said the party was confident it could address the challenges and improve service delivery. “We are inheriting a number of challenges, ageing infrastructure among other things, but we are confident that we are going to be able to deliver,” he said.