Celani Sikhakhane
The EFF regional chair who was murdered earlier this month was tipped to be the deputy mayor of the troubled uMkhanyakude District Municipality in the far north of KwaZulu-Natal.
Mxolisi Buthelezi was brutally killed two weeks ago in a drive-by shooting while he was on his way to an EFF caucus meeting.
Sources told Scrolla.Africa that it was agreed that if the IFP managed to take ANC out of power in uMkhanyakude Buthelezi would be made to be a deputy mayor since they voted with the EFF.
“The EFF made a clear decision last year that it will vote with the IFP and they would get a deputy mayor position in return,” a source said.
EFF provincial leader Vusi Khoza distanced his party from this and said it was going to be decided in their meeting on who should be put forward for the position of the deputy mayor.
“That position was going to be decided by the EFF. Another thing is that the IFP in uMkhanyakude has enough numbers to take over the council. They don’t necessarily need us,” said Khoza.
Members of the EFF and those of the IFP and their leaders came in numbers on Saturday to bid farewell to Buthelezi at his funeral held at kwaSomkhele village in kwaHlabisa.
The EFF suspected that Buthelezi was killed because of the infighting between the ANC and the IFP over the control of uMkhanyakude.
KZN police spokesperson Constable Thenjiwe Ngcobo said that they are still investigating Buthelezi’s murder and no arrest has been made so far.
