The IFP has reclaimed Nongoma Local Municipality, a move seen as a major political boost for the party ahead of local government elections next year.

With the assistance of two EFF councillors, the IFP ousted NFP mayor Mshangane Ndabandaba and ANC Speaker Babongile Sithole through a motion of no confidence on Monday afternoon. The IFP’s Mbekezeli Zondo was duly elected as the new mayor of the rural municipality in the north of KwaZulu-Natal and the EFF’s Mthokozisi Luvuno was rewarded with the deputy mayor’s position while the Speaker’s position went to the IFP’s Sinethemba Mbongwa.

Speaking after the election of the new leadership, IFP deputy secretary-general, Mangaqa Mncwango said the party was happy to reclaim the municipality from the NFP/ANC coalition, agreeing that it was a political boost ahead of the elections next year.

“We are happy. Everything went well and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs was represented and everything went according to plan. We want to promise the people of Nongoma that we will deliver services to them. This has been our municipality,” said Mncwango.

After 2021 local government elections, Mncwango was appointed as the mayor working with the EFF, however, in 2023 the EFF turned against IFP and forged relations with the NFP and ANC to form a new coalition.

The EFF was reportedly angered by both the ANC and the NFP’s failure to remove the Speaker and the mayor who are facing corruption allegations. The mayor and the Speaker were arrested alongside former deputy mayor Sabelo Nkosi who was fired a few months ago for his alleged involvement in the corruption. The trio are out on bail.

Last week the ANC said it was in the process of taking action. NFP acting secretary-general Sunset Xaba said the party had long taken a decision to remove Ndabandaba, however the party caucus requested the party to give the mayor two months in office. Xaba said the mayor is meant to vacate office at the end of July.

Reacting to the removal of his mayor on Tuesday, Xaba blamed the party caucus for stopping the national leadership from removing mayor Ndabandaba. He said the party’s national executive committee had wanted to remove the mayor in December but were discouraged by the caucus which asked the party to delay his removal.

“We will go back to the people of Nongoma to tell them the truth, that the party never supported corruption. We will reclaim Nongoma in next year’s local government elections,” said Xaba.

The EFF in the province said the party could no longer tolerate the NFP and ANC’s decision to keep the corruption-tainted mayor and Speaker in offices whereas it acted against its own deputy mayor. He said his party had warned its partners that if they did not remove them, the EFF would support their removal through a motion of no confidence. 

Attempts to get the ANC’s reaction were unsuccessful as its provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi had not responded to the question sent to him.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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