ANC not threatened by MK Party’s strides in KZN

ANC National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, says despite the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party performing well in KwaZulu- Natal, it won’t do the same in other provinces.

He made the remarks at the Electoral Commission’s National Results Operations Centre (ROC), as vote-counting got underway.

The MK Party has seen a significant voter turnout in KwaZulu Natal, with more than 170 000 votes so far for the party in the province.

The ANC has trailed distantly behind, securing 83 354 votes, with voting 29.49% complete.

Commenting on the results, Mantashe admitted that the significant support for the party has surprised him.

Gwede Mantashe is happy coz he will keep his parliamentary seat#ElectionResults Papa Penny Action SA Rigged 8th of June Nationallypic.twitter.com/vm4w1BL5aC

— The Oracle (@KZN_za) May 30, 2024

He, however, criticised the media for its coverage of the elections, saying there had been a deliberately anti-ANC agenda.

“They interview people who are standing in the queues. Any student wearing any attire that reflects ANC support, they will not interview,” he told YNews.

“They look for people that will support their thing of “vote for change”, I watch the national broadcaster, all the time negative about the ANC,” he added.

Meanwhile, the MK Party in a statement has thanked South Africans for coming out in the numbers.

The party’s Duduzile Zuma told supporters that there is no possibility of a coalition with the ANC, despite her father, Jacob Zuma, insisting he will remain a member of the ANC until he dies.

Meanwhile, the IEC has revealed that the 3rd ballot has slowed down vote counting.

The commission says historically, 80% of the election results would have been finalised within the first 24 hours of counting.

IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo, says they will release the final results within seven days. Written by Naomi Kobbie