Durban - An IFP councillor in at the eDumbe local municipality in Zululand has denied voting for the ANC during Monday’s council sitting which saw the municipality fall into the hands of the ANC.
IFP councillor Nyanga Ndlangamandla and his colleague Duduzile Masondo were accused by their party of betrayal and were on Tuesday expelled.
The party had expected the two to vote alongside the DA and EFF when eDumbe municipality convened its council which had been hung after this month’s local government elections.
The ANC won eight wards, the IFP five and the DA three. But during Monday’s vote, the ANC had managed to get two IFP councillors to vote with them effectively taking control of the municipality.
But Ndlangamandla, who was set to be the deputy mayor said he knew nothing about being expelled from the IFP.
“It is alleged that I voted for the ANC, although I never did. They should provide proof of what they are saying. All I know is I am still under IFP,” he said.
The IFP and DA had agreed that they would support each other to keep the ANC out of office.
In a statement on Tuesday, IFP deputy national speaker, Joshua Mazibuko, said Ndlangamandla and Masondo had been expelled.
“The IFP has been forced to expel with immediate effect two of our members. The party took this resolution after the two decided to vote with the ANC in Tuesday's inaugural meeting of eDumbe council, thus defying the resolution of the IFP to work with the DA and EFF in the elections for office bearers in all municipalities. This means that the two former comrades can no longer represent the IFP in this municipality”.
Asked about Ndlangamandla not knowing he had been expelled, Mazibuko said: “Whether he knows or not, it does not change the fact. Two senior IFP leaders were there and he defied them to an extent of accepting nomination from the ANC as deputy mayor,” said Mazibuko.
Masondo could not be reached for comment.