Authorities are leaving nothing to chance as hundreds of police officers and soldiers were deployed in the KwaZulu-Natal town of uPhongolo on Tuesday. Although only one ward is being contested, the by-election on Wednesday has raised interest after the drubbing of the ANC by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Nquthu in May. The two parties are the main protagonists in the by-election and the ANC cannot afford another loss. If the ANC loses the ward to the IFP, it could result in the council changing hands. The IFP could link up with the DA and the EFF to form a new coalition to govern the municipality, as they did in several other hung municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal after the 2016 local government poll. Ward 7 became vacant in December after ANC councillor Mbhekiseni "Pat" Khumalo was shot dead at his house by assassins who were pretending they were seeking help. The by-election was meant to take place in March. But a few days before voting stations were meant to open‚ the Electora...
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