An ANC supporter was gunned down and seven injured when they were ambushed while celebrating the party's election victory in KwaZulu-Natal's Swayimani area outside Pietermaritzburg on Monday afternoon.

African National Congress provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu said a motorcade of ANC supporters was attacked in the Swayimani area.

He said Simisele Hlongwane (20) died on the scene while Thenjiwe Gwala, Njabulo Mkhize, Nomkhosi Phakathi, Gladys Ngcumisa, Nonhlanhla Nkweyama, Matron Mnyandu and Phumzile Mnyandu sustained serious injuries.

"This is the latest in a string of attacks orchestrated by a bitter lynch mob who cannot accept the democratic will of the people of KwaZulu-Natal who unequivocally chose the ANC to serve them for the next five years in this province."

The ANC has alleged that members of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) were involved in the attack, an accusation that has been condemned by the IFP.

Mchunu said his party had also been informed that its members were attacked by people alleged to be IFP members who stoned the ANC's constituency offices in Ulundi earlier on Monday.

Another attack on the ANC

"Last night at the Ulundi Plaza our members were stoned by unknown people while celebrating the ANC's overwhelming victory. Three of our members were seriously injured. We condemn these attacks."

Mchunu said it was a tragedy that attacks happened during Freedom Day when people were celebrating the democratic gains of electing a government of their choice.

Netcare 911's Chris Botha said the scene was a very tense with "two opposition political parties.

"Seven people sustained gunshot wounds and a 20-year-old male sadly died due to the severe injuries he had. Paramedics from the provincial service and Netcare had their hands full to stabilise all the patients," he said.

He said they were transported by ambulance to hospitals in Pietermaritzburg for further treatment.

IFP national organiser Albert Mncwango said the ANC accusation was provocative, saying that it was irresponsible for the ANC to point fingers before the investigation was concluded.

"They must leave the police to do their work," he said.

Before the elections, security cluster ministers raised concerns about political intolerance in KwaZulu-Natal.

Nongoma, Estcourt, Ulundi, KwaDukuza, Greytown, uMsinga and other hostels were identified as hotspots after clashes between the two parties. Security personnel were deployed in the hotspots and there were no incidents of violence during the elections.