As part of its political strategy to force the IFP to reinstate its Umkhanyakude District Municipality mayor, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has dumped the IFP as a coalition partner in the Umvoti Local Municipality.

Last week, the ANC together with the Philani Mavundla-led Abantu Batho Congress (ABC), ousted IFP mayor Gabriel Malembe and replaced him with the ABC’s Mfundo Masondo. In the new arrangement, the ANC opted for a deputy mayor position which went to its chief whip Nomvula Masikane. The Speaker’s position will also go to the ABC when the council sits again.

The jockeying for the mayor position in the municipality has seen different people from different parties appointed in a short space of time.

After the 2021 local government elections, Mavundla teamed up with the IFP to co-govern the municipality in Umvoti (Greytown). The mayoral position was given to the IFP, however, when Mavundla was removed as deputy mayor by the ANC in eThekwini, he returned to Umvoti and teamed up with the ANC and was elected mayor in 2023. The following year, the IFP teamed up with ANC and removed Mavundla through a vote of no confidence.

Speaking on the sidelines of the renewal chapter signing ceremony in Durban on Monday, ANC provincial coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu confirmed that the ANC has rekindled its relationship with Mavundla in Umvoti, which resulted in the removal of the IFP mayor. 

He said the move was in response to Siphile Mdaka being ousted by the IFP as the mayor in Umkhanyakude in a vote of no confidence – Mdaka was replaced by IFP councillor Comfort Khumalo.

“There is a new leadership in Umvoti which was elected on October 17 and we have accepted that. In Umkhanyakude we want nothing but our mayor Siphile Mdaka to retain his position,” said Mabuyakhulu.

A source within the ABC in Umvoti said the deal between the ANC and Mavundla is expected to extend itself to the eThekwini Municipality where Mavundla might return to his deputy mayor position.

The source said Mavundla has been in talks with the ANC about a return to a senior position in eThekwini for months now. 

Both ANC and Mavundla have not confirmed that the Umvoti arrangement will be extended to eThekwini.

The widening rift between the ANC and IFP is being felt in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU)-the coalition also includes the DA and the NFP.

At the weekend there were rumours that the IFP had succumbed to the ANC’s demands to hand power back to the ANC in Umkhanyakude. The party was also said to also have agreed to remove Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi as Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC in a cabinet reshuffle. 

Mabuyakhulu confirmed that his party met with the IFP and discussed political matters, however, he said he would not divulge the outcomes of their meetings.

On Sunday, IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa dismissed reports which suggested that his party conceded to ANC demands, saying the party has not agreed to a reshuffle.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za 

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