The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party’s top leadership has been actively campaigning in the Thabazimbi local municipality in preparation for the upcoming by-election on 4 December. This by-election is set to be a significant one, with all 12 wards and 11 proportional representation seats up for grabs, making it the most important by-election since the national and provincial polls in May.
A total of 400 candidates from 21 parties, along with five independents, will be vying for seats in the council. The MK party, along with the ANC, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), will be contesting all 12 wards. MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela emphasized the party’s commitment to the municipality, stating that they are taking the election “as seriously as a heart attack.”
With prominent figures such as party deputy president John Hlophe and secretary general Floyd Shivambu actively campaigning in Thabazimbi, this election will serve as a crucial test of the MK party’s ability to attract voters beyond KwaZulu-Natal. The party’s goal is to potentially take control of an entire local government, a feat that has not been achieved before. In the previous May elections, the ANC secured 74% of the vote in the province, while the EFF received 12% and the MK Party garnered 1%.
The decision to place the council under administration in October was a result of years of instability and power struggles within the council. The dissolution came after the council had gone through multiple municipal managers and experienced parallel political and management structures. The lack of cooperation and governance within the council ultimately led to its collapse, affecting service delivery and governance.
The intervention by the province and the NCOP was necessary to address the financial crisis faced by the council, which had failed to pay employees, creditors, and utility bills. The administrators appointed to run the municipality were tasked with restoring stability, paying staff, and reinstating dismissed employees. The council’s dysfunctionality and financial woes had left it unable to meet its obligations and provide essential services to residents.
Moving forward, the by-election on 4 December will be a pivotal moment for the Thabazimbi local municipality and a test of the MK party’s political influence outside of KwaZulu-Natal. As voters head to the polls, the outcome of this election will determine the future direction of governance and service delivery in the municipality.
