ANC presidents live in wards run by rival parties

Detailed summary

Several prominent South African leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and former presidents Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, and Kgalema Motlanthe, now reside…

Former Presidents of the ANC hold the unenviable distinction of living in wards - in their personal residences - that are controlled by other political parties.

Incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is on record as having praised municipalities run by the rival DA, also joins this group.

uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) failed to win the ward of its leader, former president Jacob Zuma, in the Nkandla Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal by two votes as the IFP retained the seat.

The IFP held the ward with 44.87% (2,192 votes) while MKP garnered 44.83% (2,190), according to results released by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC).

In total, the MKP won only three of Nkandla’s 14 wards and the rest were taken by the IFP.

The municipality will continue to be run by the IFP and is one of five it controls with an outright majority in the province including Mthonjaneni, Nongoma, Msinga and Ulundi.

The IFP expressed its sincere appreciation and gratitude to the electorate for the confidence and support demonstrated towards the party.

“We receive this mandate with humility and reaffirm our commitment to serving communities through accountable, ethical and effective local government,” the IFP stated.

The MKP has urged its new councillors to prioritise service delivery as preparations for the 2029 national and provincial elections start.

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