MK Party Leads in Four uMgungundlovu Municipalities as Disputes Delay Msunduzi Count

The MK Party has secured the largest share of seats in four uMgungundlovu municipalities, namely Richmond, uMshwathi, Impendle, and Mpofana. In Richmond, the party obtained 10 of the 17 council seats, with the ANC taking five and the DA two. This strong showing by the MK Party is notable, particularly in areas where the ANC has traditionally enjoyed support.

The disputes and recounts in Msunduzi have significantly delayed the finalisation of results, with only 35% of results captured. IEC uMgungundlovu District Manager Khulekani Mdadane attributed the delays to disagreements involving political party agents, which have slowed down the process. Some voting stations had to recount ballots several times, with one station requiring five recounts.

Mdadane explained that IEC procedures allow for a second count when figures do not tally, and parties are expected to lodge formal objections rather than disrupt the process. However, some party agents allegedly refused to follow these procedures, preventing IEC officials from leaving voting stations. The district office intervened, collecting election materials from affected stations and moving them to a warehouse for further counting.

Despite the challenges in Msunduzi, the MK Party's strong showing in other municipalities is evident. In uMshwathi, the party secured 13 of the 27 seats, ahead of the ANC with nine, the IFP with three, and the DA with two. The party also leads in Impendle with six seats, followed by the ANC with two, while the DA, IFP, and independent councillors each secured one seat.

In Mpofana, the MK Party secured four seats, compared with three for the ANC. The DA obtained two seats, while the IFP and independent councillors secured one each. The contest was much closer in Mkhambathini, where the ANC narrowly leads with eight seats against the MK Party's seven. The IFP has three seats and the DA one.

The IEC is continuing with the outstanding work in Msunduzi, aiming to complete the process and finalise the district's results. Mdadane initially hoped to complete the capturing process by Sunday but now anticipates the deadline to be Monday morning, possibly midday, due to the disruptions in Msunduzi.

The results from uMngeni show the DA maintaining a strong showing, securing 10 wards, while the ANC won two and the MK Party one. The results are still undergoing an audit due to exceptions. The IEC's efforts to complete the process and finalise the district's results are ongoing, with a focus on ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the election outcomes.

Key points

• MK Party leads in four uMgungundlovu municipalities
• Disputes and recounts delay Msunduzi count
• IEC aims to complete Msunduzi count by Monday morning