Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DURBAN28
2009-03-06 15:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Durban
Cable title:  

IFP MAKES A CLEAN SWEEP IN KWAZULU NATAL BY-ELECTIONS

Tags:  PGOV SF 
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DE RUEHDU #0028 0651557
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061557Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL DURBAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1415
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 0788
UNCLAS DURBAN 000028 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SF
SUBJECT: IFP MAKES A CLEAN SWEEP IN KWAZULU NATAL BY-ELECTIONS
UNCLAS DURBAN 000028

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SF
SUBJECT: IFP MAKES A CLEAN SWEEP IN KWAZULU NATAL BY-ELECTIONS

1.(U) Summary: Following its sweep of by-elections in KwaZulu
Natal, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) National Chairperson Ms.
Zanele Magwaza Msibi expressed confidence that the IFP will
reclaim the province of KwaZulu Natal from the African National
Congress (ANC) in the April 22 general elections. The IFP's
decisive defeat of its biggest rival, the ANC, is a big boost to
its general election campaign. End summary.

IFP Still in Control, ANC Defeated


2. (U) The IFP won all three March 4 by-elections held in areas
of KwaZulu Natal considered to the party's strongholds,
including Jozini, Hlabisa and Mandeni. The IFP also won a ward
previously controlled by the ANC in the Mbabazane local
municipality. In a statement issued by the IFP in reaction to
the results, KZN Premier Candidate and National Chairperson Ms.
Zanele Magwaza-Msibi said `if you wanted an indication of the
mood in the ground in the run-up to the general election, you
got it.' She also said, `the wave is turning our way.'


3. (U) Ms. Magwaza-Msibi expressed confidence that by-election
results are proof that IFP's support is growing ahead of the
general election. She said the IFP defeated the ANC in Mbabazane
despite intense campaigning by Premier Sibusiso Ndebele in the
area. Ms. Magwaza-Msibi further said `the ANC went out in full
force, armed with government sponsored food parcels.'


4. (U) ANC Spokesperson Ms. Nomfundo Mcetshwa told Pol/Econ
Assistant that the ANC is disappointed at the results,
especially the loss of its ward in Mbabazane. She said the
party's provincial election committee will look into what went
wrong in Mbabazane and other areas. However, Ms. Mcetshwa was
quick to point out that the ANC remain confident of winning
about 60 percent of the provincial vote in the April 22 general
election.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: IFP's clean sweep of the recent by-elections
gives the party a much needed boost in its attempt to reclaim
the province from the ANC. The ANC had expected to do well,
after deploying senior leaders and taking advantage of the
current election campaigning momentum. But the ANC failed to
make substantial inroads in rural areas, which have long been
considered to be IFP strongholds. Failure by the ANC to retain
its ward in Mbabazane is a serious blow and shows that the IFP
is still a force in KZN and that forthcoming national elections
may not be as easy as the ANC in KZN seems to think.

DERDERIAN