Political parties crisscross election battleground KZN ahead of imminent polls

DURBAN - With just over two weeks to go before the country takes to the general elections, political parties have taken to communities across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in a bid to win over the hearts and minds of the province.

Both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s general secretaries are engaging with party members and residents in the eThekwini area.

Fikile Mbalula has been conducting door-to-door engagements, while the red berets’ Marshall Dlamini has been assessing his party’s performance.

READ: ANC launches 7-day campaign in election battleground KZN

The governing ANC’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected to be in KZN this weekend, along with the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s John Steenhuisen, while the EFF’s Julius Malema is expected in the province next week.

The song “Wenzeni uZuma?” (what has Zuma done?) first used against former National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka, was also referenced to former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and the EFF’s Malema.

All of this in defence of former president Jacob Zuma.

But today, a drive through the rolling hills of KZN and in some of the ANC’s strongholds - adaptations of the song can be heard.

This comes as the party tries to underplay the impact of Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which is being positioned as a potential threat to all established parties in this province.

The ANC’s top brass has been on the ground across various regions, giving away kangas and t-shirts, while calling for voters to mark an X next to their party on all three ballots later this month.

Meanwhile, the red berets’ Dlamini has been assessing the EFF’s campaign as the party targets one million votes in the upcoming polls.