By SIMON SHABANGU | 2023-08-28

By the close of business last night, at least 18 former Members of Parliament of the 11th Parliament were confirmed to have crashed out of the race to Parliament.

This follows the highly contested and successful national primary elections, which took place around the country on Saturday.

Although the Elections and Boundaries Commission is yet to release official results of the primary elections, sources revealed that prominent Members of Parliament, including Ministers, Lady Howard-Mabuza and Moses Vilakati were out of the race. Ex-members of Parliament Robert Magongo of Motshane and Lutfo Dlamini of Ndzingeni are also out of the race.   

Also making it through are Minister David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala of Sigwe Inkhundla who cruised through to the next stage while minister Jabulani ‘Buy Cash’ Mabuza won with a thin margin to qualify for the next stage of the voting process. He is said to have won with less than nine votes from his runner up victor Rodrigues.

Making a big win was Maphalaleni Member of Parliament Mabulala Maseko, the minister of Public Service.

He amassed 1 172 with his closest follower getting only 260 votes. His victory showed off at the special votes where he got a whopping 85 votes with his follower getting eight votes.

Also getting a convincing win was Siphocosini former Member of Parliament Mduduzi Matsebula who got 333 votes while his competitors got 14 votes combined. Matsebula’s runner-up Sithembile Kunene got six votes, five votes went to Winile Ncwane while Mefika Ngwane got three votes. 

The election has also seen the return of former legislators, some of whom were also cabinet ministers in the 10th Parliament. Among those who are poised for a return to political power are Gideon Dlamini who won at Dvokolwako under Mkhiweni Inkhundla.

Another former minister who is in the race for a return is Owen Nxumalo, the then minister of public service who is contesting at Manzini South Inkhundla. Another political heavyweight who is likely to bounce back is Siteki businessman Joseph Souza who has won in the race at Lugongolweni Inkhundla.  

Nkululeko Mbhamali is another MP who has bounced back and is still in the race.
Minister of Sports Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga  abstained as well as Timpisini MP Nelson Mamba who also did not bother to join the race for reelection.

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