ANC Musina sub-region, which has been highly criticized for losing one of their wards during the by-elections held in the area recently, rose above all criticism to claim their rightful place by collecting the most votes.

They received more than 11 000 votes out of a total of 15 592 registered in the area. To thank the electorate, a mammoth celebratory party was held at the Lesley Manyathela Stadium last Saturday. Representatives from the region, newly elected MP, Ms Lorraine Luvhengo, who is also from Musina, Mayor Caroline Mahasela, chairperson of the sub-region, Mr Abraham Luruli, and thousands of community members attended the function.

“We achieved beyond expectation. Our people have made us proud by proving our detractors wrong, those prophets of doom who want our gains to slip away from us. This calls for celebration,” said Luruli, who is also the chairperson of the sub-region.

Luruli said the overwhelming achievement is proof that the electorate wants them to continue with the mandate of serving the communities. “We are not working for ourselves and the victory gives us a clear mandate to continue with the good work of bringing service to our communities despite the obstacles and challenges we have come across,” he said. He said the loss they suffered when they lost the important ward 6, which includes the CBD, was a wake-up call that they were not doing enough as an organization and they needed to pull up their socks.

The newly elected MP, Ms Lorraine Luvhengo, promised to serve the people of Musina and to represent their cause in parliament. “I am going to parliament because of you and I will carry the mandate you have entrusted me to the fullest, “she said.

A visibly happy mayor, Cllr Caroline Mahasela, was short of words. “We are very humbled, and we thank you all for bringing us here today,” she said.

The celebration went on throughout the night, with a music festival with the best artists in the country, the likes of Jeff Maluleke of Ha Gonya fame, dishing out his old hits and new tracks from his new album. Colbert Mukwevho of Harley and the Rasta Family, and his son Percy left fans eating out of their hands.