Freedom Front Plus
Bongani Hans|Published
A Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) councillor candidate in Pietermaritzburg for the November 4 elections might face a surprise, as her registration to contest all Msunduzi Municipality’s 41 wards might trigger a by-election if she wins more than one of them.
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), individual candidates may each contest more than one ward in a municipality, but if they win all of them, they must keep one and resign from the others so that by-elections can take place.
This is the warning from the IEC after VF Plus candidate Natasha Govender revealed this week that she registered to contest all 41 wards in Msunduzi.
“One candidate is allowed to contest more than one ward in the municipality where they are registered, but when they win more than one, they can only choose one, and the other wards go to a by-election,” said IEC’s KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Thabani Ngwira.
He said this was because ward elections are constituency-based: voters elect an individual, and when that individual resigns or dies, a by-election should occur.
Govender said she chose to contest all wards in the Midlands-based municipality because her comrades in the party were still undergoing training and criminal record checks.
Govender believed that if she wins more than one ward, she would keep one and hand over the others to her party members, who are not registered with the IEC as candidates, without triggering by-elections.
“I am running for all 41 wards in Msunduzi because the party got extensive training and criminal checks.
“While other members are still busy with criminal checks and all of that, I decided to stand for all.
“And when, for instance, we get three wards, those relevant people, who will now be properly trained to handle community members, will take over as councillors,” she said.
Each candidate is charged a deposit of R4 700 to contest wards in metropolitan municipalities, R2 800 for local municipalities’ wards and R1 800 for proportional representation.
“I am sure the party paid to contest in 41 wards because I have received my documentation, including those from the IEC with my name, for each ward.
“Let us say we get two wards, I will keep one ward and one of the people on the standby list will do the second ward,” said Govender, who is currently campaigning across the municipality’s wards.
Govender trusts that uMsunduzi which has been put under administration several times due to financial mismanagement and service delivery shortcomings, will improve under the VF Plus and service delivery will flow without racial discrimination.
Natasha joined the party on June 9 and was immediately nominated as a candidate after she and her husband, Joel Govender, had long been searching for a Christian-aligned political home they could trust to bring the country to political stability and economic prosperity.
“Through my interactions with party representatives and leadership, I came to appreciate the party’s emphasis on accountability, sound governance, individual rights, cultural freedom, and financial responsibility.
“My decision to join the VF Plus was based on my Christian values, my belief in fairness, and my desire to contribute meaningfully to change in South Africa,” she said.
She joined the party knowing its racially charged history, but she believes that it has long abandoned that approach.
Govender said people still have the wrong perception of the VF Plus.
“I understand that the VF Plus has historically been associated with Afrikaner self-determination, and I respect the right of communities to preserve their language, culture and identity.
“The VF Plus has also emphasised self-determination as a constitutional right that can benefit South Africans beyond one particular cultural group.
“As an Indian South African woman, I would not have joined a party if I believed its values excluded me or my community,” she said.
Govender said since joining the party she had been questioned about whether it genuinely welcomes people from different racial and cultural backgrounds.
“My experience has taught me that perceptions can be difficult to change, particularly when a party carries a historical image in the public mind,” said Govender.
Govender believes that the VF Plus has demonstrated that its doors are open to all racial groups and cultural backgrounds.
“What matters to me is that the VF Plus continues to demonstrate, through its membership, candidates, policies and conduct, that its doors are open to all South Africans who share its values,” she said.
Since she is new to the party, she is committed to learning its values, which she believes will contribute positively to improving service delivery to the people of Msunduzi.
Govender currently has no time to sleep as she engages daily with community members, listens to their concerns, and explains the VF Plus’s policies to win the wards.
“Our campaign is not about asking people to abandon their identities or cultures, but it is about showing that people from different backgrounds can work together towards a common purpose,” she said.
The party's spokesperson, Wouter Wessels, said having black candidates is not new in the party, as this started around the 2014 local government elections.
Wessels promised that, under VF Plus councillors, townships and informal settlements, which are known to be neglected when it comes to service delivery, would see change.
“Insufficient service delivery affects everybody, and the causes should be addressed.
“The VF Plus offers practical, sound solutions that will improve financial management, accountability, infrastructure development and service delivery to all.
“We are a steadfast party, and our policies and values offer solutions to secure a better future for all,” said Wessels.
Wessels said the party initially did not have members in Msunduzi who were trained and ready to contest, except Govender.
“We are thus fielding Ms. Govender, but since nominations closed, we have recruited a significant number of additional candidates who have since undergone training and are ready to supplement our proportional list after the election and/or be fielded as candidates in by-elections that will follow when we win more than one ward.
“That is what Ms. Govender is well aware of: there will be by-elections,” said Wessels.