By Lungani Zungu
The ANC’s Matozi Khuzwayo-Dlamini’s tenure as Maphumulo local mayor might be short-lived.
The epic and chaotic battle of control for the hung municipalities between the ANC-EFF coalition and the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal will continue again this week.
The IFP says the ANC-EFF victory after unseating its Maphumulo Local Municipality mayor Siboniso Nyatikazi, is invalid and unlawful.
IFP’s provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli confirmed the party would be heading to court this week.
“We are certain that the court will rule in our favour because all the processes were trampled on during the meeting. The ANC is using back-door tactics to win back municipalities. We will not allow that,” said Ntuli.
Also getting the chop at the rowdy council meeting last week was IFP speaker Musawenkosi Ngidi.
Former mayor Nyatikazi said he would be returning to the municipality as mayor before the end of the week.
The IFP accused MEC for Co-operative, Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Bongi Sithole-Moloi, of abusing her power to “steal municipalities” in KZN.
“The ANC and EFF are just thugs who will stop at nothing to steal municipalities in KZN. We will fight back using the law. We can’t be bullied by the ANC and its supporters against using justice where we feel there has been an injustice,” said Nyatikazi.
The IFP’s hopes of reclaiming the Maphumulo municipality were lifted after party veteran Albert Mncwango’s removal as mayor of Nongoma municipality was declared unlawful and invalid last week in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Mncwango was removed on 21 February, and six days later the court ruled in his favour and reclaimed his mayoral chains.
The council was held under tight police watch.
MEC Sithole-Moloi maintained that there was nothing amiss with the meeting.
Pictured above: ANC mayor Matozi Khuzwayo-Dlamini’s future as Maphumulo mayor hangs in the balance
Picture source: Supplied
