Strong showing by MK Party in KZN, Mpumalanga ‘not unexpected’
Political analyst Levy Ndou says former President Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto Wesizwe Party has been making its presence felt in recent by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
This week, the party came out second in a by-election in Embalenhle, in the Govan Mbeki municipality in Mpumalanga, with 600 votes or 28%.
The ANC retained the ward with 50.84%.
In February, the MK Party received 21% of the vote in its debut by-election in Vryheid, in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
It then it recorded another strong showing, securing 28% of the vote in a by-election in Phongolo.
Ndou says the party is seemingly achieving its objectives.
"I expected the MK Party to make a huge impact and huge inroads in Kwa Zulu Natal - and not surprised with some parts of Mpumalanga. This is why the MK Party was formed.
"The party had to recruit from within the ANC in order to weaken the ANC and ensure that it does not get the support it used in the past.
"Umkhonto Wesizwe party is achieving its objectives; it will depend on how the voters respond to the party in other provinces; the party is dominant in KwaZulu-Natal. But I don't see them making a bigger impact in other provinces."
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