IFP showing best performance since 2006

The Inkatha Freedom Party appears to be heading towards its best showing in municipal elections since 2006.

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Durban - The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on Thursday appeared to be heading towards its best showing in municipal elections since 2006.

Although not all the results were in by 4pm on Thursday and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) had yet to post any results from the eThekwini Metro Municipality, the party had already secured 958 000 votes – a figure last achieved in the 2006 local government elections.

The party had taken control of President Jacob Zuma’s home town of Nkandla and it is believed to have also improved its showing in Durban as well.

The party may have benefited from the lack of National Freedom Party (NFP) participation after it failed to pay the required registration fees.

Claims by both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) that various segments of the NFP leadership had endorsed them appeared to have little effect on NFP voters on the ground.

Even in the one municipality – Nquthu Local Municipality – where the NFP had paid the required fees, the IFP advanced and was the largest party.

According to the IEC, at 4pm on Thursday, the party was the largest party in five KwaZulu-Natal municipalities and the main opposition in a number of other municipalities.

African News Agency