By Celani Sikhakhane
Shukela Thwala has been fired as the deputy mayor of Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal – and he says his comrades from Team Sugar South Africa conspired with the IFP to stab him in the back and remove him from office.
Thwala founded the Team Sugar South Africa political party with Newcastle sugar factory workers ahead of the 2021 local government elections after leaving the EFF.
However, it will not be taking part in the 29 May elections as infighting is said to have led to its failure to meet the Independent Electoral Commission’s criteria.
In an SMS shared with Scrolla.Africa, Thwala wrote: “Team Sugar, we are under attack from our councillors who have betrayed us. They have colluded with the IFP to remove me from the position of deputy mayor.”
Thwala was axed on 28 March at a strategic planning meeting held in the Drakensberg.
The ex-deputy mayor made his mark in Newcastle by giving away kitchen appliances at his party gatherings, but was accused of removing an electricity transformer from Madadeni township’s Ward 11 after the community failed to vote for his party.
Thwala told party members in Newcastle this week that Team Sugar’s deputy president Andile Nkosi, secretary-general Nondumiso Masondo and councillor Mri Ngcobo all turned against him.
When contacted by Scrolla.Africa, Masondo said she was not in a good space to talk.
She referred queries to Nkosi, but his phone rang unanswered.
Ngcobo was also unavailable to comment by the time of publication as his phone was on voice mail.
Pictured above: Team Sugar South Africa leader Shukela Thwala, who was removed last week as deputy mayor of Newcastle.
Image source: Supplied
