IFP's decision to reinstate ANC to key KZN district backfires as local leader resigns

THE IFP's decision to return the ANC to power in the Umkhanyakude district municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has backfired with influential local leader Mdabe Mathenjwa announcing his resignation to protest against the decision.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA

Early in October, the IFP with the support of the EFF and NFP ousted ANC mayor Siphile Mdaka through a vote of no confidence.

IFP councillor Comfort Khumalo was elected the new mayor with the NFP retaining the deputy mayorship, a position it had previously held under ANC leadership.

Khumalo was forced to resign last month to make way for Mdaka's return.

Speaking on Wednesday Mathenjwa, who is a branch chairperson under the Jozini Local Municipality, said he had on a number of occasions expressed his disapproval of what the party has done but this was ignored.

He said he had come to a point that he believed he needed to leave politics and the IFP because he could not understand why the party returned the ANC to power, despite the IFP being the majority party in the district municipality.