One candidate, 41 wards: Natasha Govender’s unusual uMsunduzi election bid

Natasha Govender, who is a candidate for all 41 wards in Msunduzi Municipality.

In an unusual move, one woman is standing in every single ward of Pietermaritzburg's uMsunduzi council in the November 4 local government elections - all 41 of them.

In a second unusual move, Natasha Govender, a Christian of Indian origin, is on the ballot representing the Afrikaner-led Freedom Front PLUS (VF Plus).

She says should she win all 41 wards, she will step down from 40 to become the councillor for one ward. She is unaware that she cannot win a ward and be replaced by another person without a by-election. 

Electoral Commission of South Africa provincial spokesperson Thabani Ngwira confirmed this.

“I am running for 41 wards in Msunduzi because the party was involved in extensive training and criminal and background checks of candidates," she said. " The VF PLUS received an influx of applications from people who wanted to be its candidates, but they could not be nominated because they had to go through the process.

“While other members are still busy with criminal checks and all that, I decided to stand for all the wards. 

Govender joined the party, which is known to advocate for white Afrikaner self-determination within South Africa, on June 9 and was immediately nominated as a candidate. 

She and her husband Joel Govender joined after a long search for a Christian-aligned political home they could trust to bring the country to political stability and economic prosperity. 

“Through my interactions with party representatives and leadership, I came to appreciate the party’s emphasis on accountability, sound governance, individual rights, cultural freedom, and financial responsibility.  

“My decision to join the VF PLUS was based on my Christian values, my belief in fairness, and my desire to contribute meaningfully to change in South Africa. My husband and I were looking for a political home where we could serve our communities and work towards a better future,” she said.

She joined the party knowing its racially oriented historical background, but she believes that it has long abandoned that approach. 

“I understand that the VF PLUS has historically been associated with Afrikaner self-determination, and I respect the right of communities to preserve their language, culture and identity. 

“However, I believe that protecting one community’s identity should not come at the expense of another’s dignity or rights. The VF PLUS has emphasised self-determination as a constitutional right that can benefit South Africans beyond one particular cultural group.

“As an Indian South African woman, I would not have joined a party if I believed its values excluded me or my community,” she said.

Govender said since joining the party she had been questioned about whether it genuinely welcomes people from different racial and cultural backgrounds.

“I welcome these questions because people deserve honest answers, and I believe that trust is earned through our willingness to listen, and the way we treat people.

“My experience has taught me that perceptions can be difficult to change, particularly when a party carries a historical image in the public mind,” said Govender. 

Govender believes that the VF PLUS has demonstrated that its doors are open to all racial groups and cultural backgrounds. 

Govender is currently involved in daily engagement with community members and listening to their concerns and explaining the VF PLUS’s policies. 

Wessels could not say how many black candidates the party has fielded for the upcoming elections, saying it does not racially classify people. 

“I can not give you a number because we do not require people applying to become members or candidates to indicate their race,” he said.

He promised that under its councillors, townships and informal settlements, which are known to be neglected when it comes to service delivery, would see change.  “Insufficient service delivery affects everybody, and the causes should be addressed," he said.