ANC takes KZN ward from DA

The ANC's candidate has won a KwaZulu-Natal by-election in which the country's two biggest parties sent in their big guns to campaign for votes.

African National Congress candidate Zibuse Learnard Mthobeni garnered 1920 votes in the Umzimkhulu ward, while the Democratic Alliance's Jabulani Goodwill Chiya took 748, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced on Thursday.

There was a 60.04 percentage poll and 29 spoilt votes.

IEC spokesman Mawethu Mosery said the by-election went off without a hitch on Wednesday, and that none of the parties involved had lodged any complaints.

In the weeks leading up to the by-election, DA leader Helen Zille and ANC KZN treasurer Peggy Nkonyeni made appearances to campaign for their candidates.

Chiya was the incumbent. He won the ward as an independent candidate in 2011, but later joined the DA, forcing the by-election.

In 2011, Chiya won the ward with 61.48 percent of the 2661 votes cast.

ANC spokesman Senzo Mkhize said in a statement that "poor Chiya" was misled by the DA to move to the party even though floor-crossing legislation had been abolished.

"The ANC hopes the by-election results will help the DA to realise that people are not fooled by its lies that it played a role in the emancipation of people from the oppressive apartheid regime.

"People also don’t take it kindly when the DA desperately tries to associate itself with the ANC stalwarts such as Comrade Nelson Mandela," he said.