Durban – ActionSA is set to contest the eThekwini Municipality by-election for the first time since it was formed.
The party will unveil its ward 35 candidate and its election posters on Friday. The party spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Sanelisiwe Zuma, told the Daily News on Thursday that ActionSA has taken a decision to field its candidate for ward 35.
“Yes, we will field our candidate for a by-election in eThekwini for the first time, but we will reveal the name and the details tomorrow (Friday), so come to our media briefing,” said Zuma who is also an eThekwini councillor.
The ward, which includes uMhlanga and surrounding areas, has been the DA ward for many years and was left vacant after the party councillor Nicole Bollman was deployed to Parliament after the May 29 general elections. The by-election will take place next month.
Former ward councillor Bollman said it would not be possible for any party to take that ward from the DA since it is one of the party’s biggest strongholds. She said another reason the DA would keep the ward was because of the work she did for the community while she was still a ward councillor.
“No one will take this ward from us. The DA has been winning this ward by between 80% to 90%, so I am confident that my party will retain the ward come September 11,” added Bollman.
There are currently four seats up for grabs in eThekwini which will be filled through by-elections on September 11. The DA will field Bradley Singh, while the ANC has entrusted Xolani Mabaso with the task of winning the ward from the DA.
Apart from ward 35, ward 36 also became vacant after another DA councillor, Shontel de Boer, from Umgeni Park went to the provincial legislature.
Another DA councillor, Sakhile Mngadi, from Glenwood (ward 31), also joined the provincial legislature, leaving his ward up for grabs. Ward 34, which includes Redhill and areas in the north of Durban. also became vacant after the resignation of councillor Bobby Maharaj.
The DA provincial spokesperson, Sithembiso Ngema, laughed off ActionSA’s decision to contest ward 35, saying Zwakele Mncwango (ActionSA leader) knew too well that his party stood no chance of taking that ward from the DA.
“I think ActionSA is just testing waters which is not a bad thing in politics,” said Ngema.
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Daily News