Political turmoil in KwaZulu-Natal as IFP plans to expel rebellious councillors
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal is set to expel six ward councillors from uPhongolo Local Municipality after voting with the ANC to elect the council Speaker.
The municipality in the north of the province has been operating without a Speaker for a long time following the IFP’s decision to expel the previous Speaker.
ANC councillor Celiwe Nxumalo was elected on Friday with 18 votes, beating the IFP’s 10. She won with support from IFP rebels, after the ANC secured six votes beyond its own 10 and those of the EFF and NFP.
In the 30-seat council, IFP has 16, while the ANC has 10. EFF, NFP and the DA have one seat apart. The voting results showed that besides EFF and NFP votes, the ANC received extra six votes which IFP claimed came from its belligerent councillors. It remains unclear whether the DA voted or abstained or if one of the IFP councillors did not vote.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the party’s senior member said although the party has not communicated its decision, but would expel all the six councillors.
“Even if they are ward councillors, we are going to expel them. There is no party that is going to allow such behaviour. Politics is a game of numbers so if the party councillors cannot vote according to the party line then what’s the point of having them in the council. We will expel them and rather live with the consequences thereafter,” said the member.
He said another reason to expel them would be to avoid the total takeover of the municipality by the opposition.
He added that should the party delay in acting against the councillors, the ANC and its partners would file another motion to oust the mayor who is the only IFP left in the troika. The IFP deputy mayor is among the six councillors which sided with the ANC.
IFP national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, had not responded to questions on what action the party will take against the councillors.
The IFP’s decision, if implemented, could throw the municipality into turmoil as the Electoral Commission of South Africa would not conduct by-elections to replace the councillors since the local government elections are a few months away.
In terms of the Municipal Systems Act, the Speaker will assume the responsibility of the six vacant wards and may appoint PR councillors until a replacement is done to ensure that residents are serviced.
In welcoming the decision, the ANC in the province called for calm and urged all councillors to respect the outcome of the democratic process.
