Nkosikazi Nokwanele Balizulu is elated her party the ATM has taken away ward 19 in Qunu, from the ANC after the liberation movement failed to even register a candidate.
But according to Balizulu even if the ANC had managed to field a candidate, they were always going to lose the ward, due to the work ATM had already done there.
The Qunu village chief said people had had enough of the ANC’s empty promises.
Balizulu who lives directly opposite late former president Nelson Mandela’s house, with their homes only separated by the N2 highway says lack of services, such as basic things like lack of water in the area and high rate of crime and damaged roads is what had long frustrated voters.
“We have been complaining and crying for a long time but our cries fell on deaf ears. Its frustrations and being ignored caused us to look for alternatives.
“In the ATM we found a political home where we got to be heard and respected.
“Today, I have a car because of the ATM. I am happy they won the ward because all the people in the village will get to see that they care about people’s development,” she said.
Balizulu said she was not the only chief to have switched from the ANC to the ATM.
“There are many other chiefs who left the ANC for ATM. All of them are all disappointed with how the ANC failed them,” Balizulu said.
Ward 19 is where the former president and renowned statesman is buried, Qunu and forms part of KSD [King Sabata Dalindyebo] municipality.
Meanwhile KSD which had been highly contested with UDMs Prince Mlimandlela Ndamase one of the people going for the mayoral chain, is one of hung municipalities in the province and will be run through coalition government for the first time since 2002, after there was no outright winner.
Ndamase said there were now efforts to sabotage those communities which voted for UDM by depriving them of services.
“The plan is to punish communities. Those who reject voter choices have decided that no services must be delivered in wards run by the UDM.
“Their leadership has given strict instructions that those wards must not be serviced between now and February.
He said they are working to out those who are making the deliberate disruption.
“Am waiting for my team to package the recordings and voice notes. We will not retreat. We will expose those who treat the people with disdain,” Ndamase said.
This week KSD mayoral spokesperson Olwethu Mabovula announced that the term of the previous council had officially ended with new role players expected to assume their positions on November, 20
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