In a new arrangement between IFP and ANC, ousted Umkhanyakude District Municipality Mayor Siphile Mdaka is set to return back to his position.

Mdaka, an ANC member, who had been a mayor since 2021 was removed from his position by the IFP through a vote of no confidence early last month. The motion was supported by the ANC allies, EFF and NFP.  IFP councillor Comfort Khumalo was elected new mayor with NFP retaining the  deputy mayorship.

The ANC had been governing with NFP since 2021. Their arrangement resulted in the NFP getting the deputy mayorship while the Speaker’s position remained under the ANC.

After ANC protested against his removal, IFP offered Mdaka a deputy mayor position. He accepted the position, however, ANC rejected the arrangement and ordered him to resign.

In the new setup according to sources, the EFF will now get a deputy mayorship and IFP will settle for the Speaker’s position while NFP will be given the Municipal Public Accounts Committee to chair.

The ANC spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal Fanle Sibisi said although the party had been in discussion with the IFP and other partners in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), he could not confirm the new Umkhanyakude arrangement.

“Give me time. I will have to go back and check the latest developments in relation to Umkhanyakude,” said Sibisi.

However, at the time of the publication he had not yet returned with answers. IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa did not respond to questions sent to him on Saturday.

The ANC’s removal in Umkhanyakude soured the relationship between itself and IFP and threatened the future of the GPU. 

The ANC demanded the immediate reinstatement of its mayor, accusing the IFP of backstabbing it while it was its partner in the GPU. The ANC ended its working relations with the IFP in Umvoti Local Municipality in Greytown in the midlands of the province as a direct response to its removal in Umkhanyakude. The ANC filed a motion of no confidence against the IFP Mayor Zamani Malembe. 

Amidst these tensions, Umkhonto weSizwe Party filed a motion of no confidence against Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli. There were fears that the ANC would back the motion and work with the MKP, however, after the ANC’s national leadership intervention which met with the IFP in Durban a few weeks ago, parties appeared to have restored their relationship. The ANC also appeared to have backed off from its drive to remove IFP from Umvoti.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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