There is now a very real chance that the ANC could lose control of KwaZulu-Natal after the 2024 national general elections.

A powerful coalition of the IFP and the DA in KZN is winning by-elections in areas previously regarded as ANC strongholds.

Where the IFP is stronger, mostly in Northern KZN, the DA would not field a candidate but instead implore its voters to vote for an IFP candidate.

Similarly, in urban areas where the DA has strong support, the IFP would campaign for a DA candidate.

This is the bad news President Cyril Ramaphosa received when he campaigned in KZN at the weekend.

ANC KZN spokesperson Mafika Mndebele told the media that the DA and IFP were ganging up against the ruling party.

"We are losing by-elections in KZN because the IFP and DA are voting together and forming a majority against us," said Mndebele.

"When the IFP has a majority in a ward, the DA don't contest officially. They vote with the IFP. This is when their combined votes become the majority and they win against the ANC."

The ANC is facing a serious decline, with several defeats in recent KZN by-elections.

In some cases, councillors who were elected in the 2021 local government elections have resigned and joined the IFP. Others have resigned and work for municipalities governed by the IFP.

In ward 99, Umgababa in eThekwini, the IFP won a resounding victory and took it from the ANC.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party and the IFP leadership have agreed on this strategic relationship to pave the way for the exit of the ANC from KZN.

Ramaphosa told ANC branches in eThekwini they needed to work hard and intensify the number of volunteers -- up to 20,000 per branch -- to win the elections.

"I know that some people have predicted the demise of the ANC ahead of the 2024 elections. Let us go to these elections to win, not to be in coalitions. Here in eThekwini, I am going to assist you and come to campaign with you," he said.