IFP orders reversal of ANC coalition in Umvoti
There is uncertainty around the mayoral seat in Umvoti Municipality.
On Tuesday, the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party joined forces to have Philani Mavundla of the ABC party ousted as mayor.
Speaker Mfundo Masondo was also removed.
The IFP's Gabriel Malembe was then elected as the mayor with the help of the ANC. In exchange, the ANC's Ntombi Ngubane was voted in as Speaker with the assistance of the IFP.
However, IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa says they have ordered the reversal of the coalition.
READ: Umvoti’s Philani Mavundla ousted as mayor
He says it's not recognised by the leadership.
"For any coalition arrangement that happens must get the blessing of a political party. In Mzumbe, ANC councillors voted for an IFP mayor, and those councillors were dismissed because it was not the mandate of the ANC. Now similar in Umvoti, the IFP had had not given the mandate, so to us it is non-existing. We did not get the mandate for it."
The KZN ANC's Mafika Mndebele says they support their councillors who voted in favour of the removal of Mavundla and welcome the move.
"All political parties agreed as the ANC we were one. We accept and appreciate the fact that our councillors put political party differences aside and worked together to resolve the plight of our people. The people of Umvoti will be the ones suffering because everyone agrees that Mavundla is the problem."
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