ANC elections chief Mdumiseni Ntuli admitted that the party had taken its historical support in Mpumalanga for granted. Speaking to News24 from the IEC results center, Ntuli recognized that while the ANC focused on KwaZulu-Natal, Jacob Zuma’s new uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) gained significant ground in Mpumalanga. By Friday evening, with 81.5% of votes counted, the ANC retained a slim majority of 50.81%, a stark decline from the 72.23% support it held in 2019. The MKP, with 17.97%, emerged as the official opposition in the province. The party’s rise began after Zuma’s announcement in December and significant local campaign efforts. Political analyst Mpumelelo Mkhabela highlighted the growing vulnerabilities in ANC strongholds like Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. He pointed out that dissatisfaction with governance in regions like the Gert Sibande led to voter shifts towards the MKP and EFF. The results reflect a challenging landscape for the ANC, particularly in Mpumalanga.
Original Source: Siyamtanda Capa
Date: 2024-06-01 02:45:25
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