Siphelele Nketo 

AS municipal elections for local government draw closer, political parties across South Africa are using every opportunity available to draw the attention of voters ahead of November 4.

The Kokstad municipality in the southern area of KwaZulu-Natal is one of the municipalities targeted by political parties. The municipality (responsible for serving farm communities, township areas as well as the CBD), has 11 wards. In the previous municipal elections in 2021, the municipality had 10 wards. An additional ward was added. To garner support in all 11 wards, political parties have intensified door-to-door campaigns and other parties brought national leaders to strengthen campaigns.

ANCYL president Collen Malatji together with NEC members and leadership of ANCYL in KZN visited the area of Shayamoya on Wednesday, October 14, to engage party members and also for a school camp food donation drive at Shayamoya Area Secondary.  The Economic Freedom Party (EFF) recently brought its leader Julius Malema to address a manifesto launch in an open space next to Kokstad Primary School.

On Friday, October 16, the EFF’s secretary-general Marshal Dlamini will be conducting a door-to-door programme in Ward 10 and will later engage the community. Another party that also aims to gain votes in the Kokstad area is the Democratic Alliance (DA). According to DA councillor Bradwyn Marnce, the party will conduct stakeholder engagement sessions while increasing door-to-door programmes.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has put up an election poster in the Horseshoe Township, in Ward 1, telling voters to take the money they are given and vote for the SACP. Masibonge Mkhatshane, the SACP’s election coordinator in Kokstad, explained that the poster was put up after witnessing some parties using money for campaigns.

The SACP will contest municipal elections for the first time. Mkhatshane said the party has seven councillor candidates, contesting in all wards.