KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has commended the people of the province for ensuring that Wednesday's local elections were peaceful. Ntuli made the remarks during a tour of the provincial Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Results Centre at Durban's Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC. He expressed pride in the fact that the polls were peaceful, with only isolated incidents reported. Ntuli's visit came as the IEC was wrapping up the counting of votes in KZN.
With 85% of the provincial votes counted, the MK Party was leading in KZN with 34% of the vote. The IFP, a major political force in the province, was in second place with 23%, while the ANC had 21% of the provincial vote. Ntuli's comments come as the IEC prepares to officially announce the results on Sunday. The provisional results suggest a likelihood of hung councils in several municipalities across KZN, including in Msunduzi and eThekwini.
MK Party leader, former President Jacob Zuma, addressed the media in Durban, saying the party was ready to govern the province's municipalities. He claimed the party had predicted its victory and was prepared to enter into coalition governments where it did not secure an outright majority. Zuma's comments come as the IEC continues to count votes and finalize the results.
ANC KZN convenor Mike Mabuyakhulu responded to the election outcome, saying the party did not view it as a crisis. He expressed confidence that the ANC would bounce back from the challenges it faced. Mabuyakhulu's comments reflect the ANC's determination to regain its footing in the province.
IEC Provincial Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga reported that the electoral body was on track to conclude the counting process on Friday. The Msunduzi Municipality and the eThekwini Metro had the highest number of outstanding votes by Friday afternoon. The IEC's progress in counting votes suggests that the results will be finalized soon.
The peaceful nature of the elections in KZN has been widely praised. Ntuli's commendation of the people of KZN reflects the province's reputation for conducting smooth and peaceful elections. The outcome of the elections will have significant implications for the province's municipalities and governance.
As the IEC prepares to officially announce the results on Sunday, the province is waiting with bated breath. The likelihood of hung councils in several municipalities suggests that coalition governments may play a significant role in KZN's governance. The ANC, IFP, and MK Party will likely play key roles in shaping the province's future.
Key points
- Premier Ntuli commends people of KZN for peaceful elections
- MK Party leads in KZN with 34% of the vote
- ANC and IFP also contesting for power in the province
