JOHANNESBURG - The battle for votes is gaining momentum ahead of next year's national elections.
Recent by-elections in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have given parties an idea of which way voters are leaning.
Independent election analyst, Wayne Sussman, says the race in KZN is going to be exciting.
He said, "there is a place in the Mandeni municipality near the Tugela river mouth between Kwadukuza and Eshowe, the ANC rock solid there in this by-election, I expected the IFP to make some inroads there but the ANC hardly lost any ground, and then strangely contrast it with southern KwaZulu-Natal, to Umzimkhulu, a high proportion of Xhosa speakers in this particular area, this in the Harry Gwala district, now when you look at the map of KwaZulu Natal, there's no better place for the ANC."
"This is their fortress and here you see the ANC lose some ground, falling from 80-percent to 66-percent and who is the big winner, the IFP who barely 1-percent in vote in 2021 come into 25-percent."
"So if the IFP can replicate this in more more places in Southern KwaZulu-Natal. KwaZulu Natal is gonna be even more exciting."