15 October 2009

The IFP has comfortably won 3 out of 6 municipal by-elections held across KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, including the hotly contested and legally disputed ward 3 in Imbabazane.

In addition to ward 3 in Imbabazane, the IFP has won wards 7 and 12 in Abaqulusi.

“These are solid by-election results. The Imbabazane result is particularly gratifying given the legal consequences of the IFP’s previous win in that ward,” said IFP KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary and leader of the official opposition in the province Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi.

The IFP took ward 3 in Imbabazane from the ANC earlier this year by a narrow margin. The ANC consequently took the matter to court which forced a repeat of the disputed by-election.

“The people of Imbabazane have now spoken with an even clearer voice and increased the IFP’s winning margin tenfold. There can now be no doubt about the voters’ preferences in this area,” said Dr Buthelezi.

The IFP believes yesterday’s by-election results augur well for the party as it gears up for the 2011 local government elections.

“Yesterday’s by-election results are an important indicator of the party’s fortunes in 2011, especially since the IFP was outperformed in some of the contested areas by the ANC in the April 2009 elections,” said Dr Buthelezi.

Contact: Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi, 082 516 0156