DURBAN - SMALL and new parties in Chatsworth have promised to give big parties a run for their money when results of the local government elections are released.
When the Daily News visited various voting districts in the area small parties had their tables decorated with their party emblems outside the stations helping voters check their names on the voters roll.
They were also taking the opportunity to hand out pamphlets with their party manifestos.
One of the newcomers Active Citizens Coalition Ward 72 candidate Julian Moodley said his party would dent the old and big parties because for many years they took voters for granted.
He said they had campaigned hard and although he understood that he might not win, he was adamant that his party would do well and leave taking away many votes.
Also out in full force was Visvin Reddy’s Adec which had decorated its table with party colours outside Dawnridge Primary School also in Ward 72.
The party fielded Kugen Shunmoogam as a candidate who said he was hoping for the better when it came to the results.
The African People’s Freedom Party was also visible outside Dawnridge Primary School.
In this ward more than 40 parties battled for control and many were newcomers.
Meanwhile, the killing of an ANC ward 101 candidate in Cato Crest, Siyabonga Mkhize, who was shot and killed three weeks ago appeared to have not deterred party supporters from coming out and voting for him.
At the biggest voting station with 6 278 registered voters, ANC members were singing Struggle songs.
Many were outside the polling station at Mayville Secondary School with branded vans playing loud music on mounted sound speakers.
Branch Election Co-ordinator Sphamandla Ndlovu said they had worked hard convincing people to continue to support Mkhize to allow the party an opportunity to elect a new candidate in the by-election after three months.
“We told people that they must come out and still vote for him and we are confident of a victory. Despite the factions we have in the ward, we put all that aside and came out to vote for the ANC. We would like to thank everyone that voted for ANC and the late comrade Mkhize,” said Ndlovu.
If Mkhize wins the ward the IEC would declare his seat in eThekwini metro and call for a by-election in 3 months.
Daily News