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Jacob Zuma's MKP outshone the ANC by winning the Ward 2 by-election in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal. (Rosetta Msimango/City Press)
- The MK Party won decisively in Richmond's Ward 2 by-election, securing 54% of the vote.
- MKP's Msizi Amon Dlamini led the victory, surpassing ANC's candidate and others.
- The ANC saw a continued decline in KwaZulu-Natal, dropping from 84.44% in 2021 to 39.41% in this election.
The MK Party kept its foot on the ANC's neck by winning the Ward 2 by-election in Richmond in the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
This is one of the wards where former president Jacob Zuma's party outshone the ANC in the May 2024 election.
So emphatic was the party's latest win that out of the four voting districts up for grabs in that by-election, the ANC only won one and the other parties none.
The parties contested for the ward's 6 744 registered voters.
READ | 'Different and difficult' by-election terrain for MKP in KwaZulu-Natal as local support dwindles
But it was MKP's Msizi Amon Dlamini who won the ward by 1 915 votes or 54.22%.
In his wake are the ANC's Rosemary Shange with 1 392 votes or 39.41%; EFF's Zekhaya Sithole with 171 votes or 4.84%; IFP's Thembinkosi Ntunzela with 42 votes or 1.19%; and Patriotic Alliance's Amahle McKenzie with 12 votes or 0.34%.
The ANC's dramatic backslide in this ward from 84.44% in the 2021 municipal elections is consistent with the party's poor performance from an electoral base of 54% to 17% in the May election.
BREAKING NEWS!The UMkhonto weSizwe Party has secured victory in the Ward 2 Richmond, Umgungundlovu by-election with 54% of the vote.A heartfelt thank you to all the commanders and supporters who cast their votes for the MKP. pic.twitter.com/5AEfso4xLt
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) March 13, 2025According to the Electoral Commission's (IEC) comparative data, the ANC elected its former councillor, Mthokozisi Madlala, with a resounding 84.44% of the vote in this ward in 2021.
"When we announced the Top 8 of the KwaZulu-Natal detachment in January 2025, we guided that the province, region, sub-region and all MK Ground Forces must defend the gains of uMKhonto weSizwe in Richmond Ward 2 and we did exactly that. Siyathuthuka VD [participation Bambatha section] sealed our victory.
"Viva MK, Viva! Ward 2 Richmond retained decisively! We will defend our gains with everything in our power!" wrote MKP secretary-general Floyd Shivambu on X.
