HOW ANC 'SLEEPERS' HANDED MKP HISTORIC WIN

Party confirms some among its ranks helped Zuma's organisation in Saldanha

- NICOLA DANIELS

THE ANC in the Western Cape has attributed its defeat which handed Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto WeSizwe Party a historic victory in Saldanha Bay municipality, to "sleepers" among its own ranks, who had campaigned for other parties while wearing an ANC t-shirt.

The ANC lost this by-election in Ward 1, in the Saldanha Bay municipality to MK Party member Mzwandile Simon Biko, an ex-ANC member last week.

The party had unleashed some of its most senior NEC members including deputy ministers Nonceba Mhlauli and Thandi Mahambehlala led by ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane and NEC member Khusela Diko in the hopes of retaining the ward.

However, despite its efforts, the party lost by over 800 votes. While the ANĆ received 338 votes, the MK Party received 1 197.

Ahead of the by-election, suspicion had been rife that there were ANC members that campaigned for the MK party in KwaZulu Natal during last year's national elections.

The party subsequently lost power in that province and was forced to enter into a coalition with the IFP and the DA, among others to form the provincial government of national unity.

ANC Provincial Secretary, Neville Delport confirmed to the Cape Times that a similar trend had also been picked up ahead of the Saldanha Bay by-election.