Mzwanele Manyi's party polls 30% in by-election, thrashing UDM and EFF.

'It is very meaningful that the ATM can do better than the EFF and
the UDM in the Eastern Cape,' says an analyst, after Mzwanele Manyi's
ATM won 30% of the votes in a by-election on Wednesday.
Image: Peggy Nkomo

Mzwanele Manyi's African Transformation Movement (ATM) winning 30% in a municipal by-election in the Eastern Cape has the would-be MP grinning and others pondering.

The ATM won 30% of the votes in Nyandeni ward 21 on Wednesday. 

The ward covers largely Ngqeleni and surrounding towns about 30km east of Mthatha.

A by-election is an election which happens in a municipality between general municipal elections every five years.

Elections analyst Dawie Scholtz called the result "very, very, very interesting" and an "incredible number" for the ATM. 

The ANC got 65% of the vote, the EFF 3% and the UDM 2%.

"I haven't commented on ATM, because there is no data on them. But what's been going around on social media [unverified] has been impressive. And this result is very impressive. ATM could have a consequential impact on the election. They're not being polled. Could be a surprise," Scholtz said.

By Nico Gous.

Full story at Times Live.