In the recent municipal by-elections held on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, the African National Congress successfully kept control of its seat in the Eastern Cape, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) secured a seat in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The Eastern Cape’s elected councilor for Ward 10 in the Matatiele Municipality (EC441) is the ANC’s Gideon Mvuyisi Masela. The party retained the seat it had won in the 2021 Municipal elections, with 76.18% of total votes cast. This marks an increase from the 64.12% achieved in the previous election. Voter turnout was recorded at 48.47%.
Meanwhile, in KZN, the newly elected councilor of Ward 15 in the Umhlabuyalingana Municipality (KZN271) is the IFP’s Kwenzile Bongumusa Mtembu. The seat was previously held by the ANC during the 2021 elections. The IFP secured 48.24%, indicating a decrease from the 55.66% achieved in 2021.
Despite that, the party has managed to reclaim the seat, with voter turnout of 59.80%.
