Inkatha Freedom Party seeks to reclaim Nongoma from ANC/EFF/NFP coalition
Supporters of EFF in Nongoma in red T-shirts queuing to get IFP T-shirts in a rally to welcome them.
Image: Facebook
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal has vowed to reclaim Nongoma Local Municipality from the ANC/EFF/NFP coalition in the next year's local government elections.
The party leadership, led by its president Velenkosini Hlabisa, welcomed close to 1 000 members who the party claimed had defected from other political parties on Sunday. The party used the welcoming to celebrate Freedom Day, which marked 31 years of democracy in South Africa.
Speaking at the event, the party's national deputy secretary-general Mangaqa Mncwango said with many members of the various parties joining the IFP in big numbers daily in Nongoma, his party was already preparing to govern Nongoma Local Municipality after next year's local government elections.
Mncwango, former mayor of Nongoma, said many people are questioning the rationale of a judiciary that allowed the mayor, his deputy, and the Speaker to return to the 'crime scene' after being granted bail for allegedly stealing the municipality's funds.
'People no longer trust this coalition of corruption that is running Nongoma municipality, which is why they are joining the IFP in big numbers. We will reclaim our municipality in the next year's local elections, and we will govern without a coalition,' said Mncwango.
He claimed that everyone was caught off guard because the magistrate did not see the need to impose the customary restrictions that the suspects should not be permitted to be near the municipality until their case was finalised when he granted bail to Mayor Mshangane Ndabandaba, his deputy Sabelo Nkosi, and Speaker Babongile Sithole.
Mncwango added that the court's decision to allow the three suspects accused of stealing municipality funds to come back and preside over the remaining funds was similar to sending back the murder suspects to the crime scene to destroy the evidence.
Among the members welcomed by the IFP was Nkosi, who was forced to resign by his party, EFF, because of his alleged involvement in corruption which saw him being arrested alongside the mayor and Speaker last year. The trio was released on R5 000 bail each after spending several days in custody, however, they were allowed back to their positions. They face corruption charges.
When no party received enough votes to govern Nongoma alone and Mncwango was elected mayor, the EFF joined forces with the IFP to co-govern the city following the local government elections in 2021.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
40 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: IFP deputy chief whip's ‘assassination'
Here's your daily news update for Sunday, 01 June 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. In today's news update, friends, family and community members gathered at the Bloemfontein City Hall in the Free State to pay their final respects to Olorato Mongale. The 30-year-old was killed, and her body dumped, after she went on a date last Sunday in Johannesburg. This comes as the IFP calls on police to leave no stone unturned in their search for the killers of its Deputy Chief Whip, Khethamabala Sithole. Sithole was killed by unknown assailants on Saturday evening in Katlehong, Gauteng. Provincial Secretary Alco Ngobese was also injured in the shooting and is currently receiving treatment. Weather tomorrow: 02 June 2025 The South African Weather Service (Saws) has issued a yellow level 2 warning for damaging waves between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay on Monday. 'Heavy westerly to south-westerly swells, with wave heights of 4 to 4.5 meters, are expected between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Sunday, but between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay on Monday,' warned the weather service. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. IFP want answers after deputy chief whip's 'assassination' IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said details around Sithole's death 'are still sketchy at the moment', but the party urged police to find those responsible for the murder. Picture: The Witness 'It is the IFP's expectation that the law enforcement agencies will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.' CONTINUE READING: IFP want answers after deputy chief whip's 'assassination' WATCH: Olorato Mongale remembered as 'light extinguished too soon', police vow action The Mongale family have questioned how a 'broken' justice system had allowed the men accused of kidnapping to be set free into society. Olorato Mongale. Picture: X At the service, Mongale was described as an adventurous young woman who shone brightly in all she did. 'She was not just talented but also a beacon of energy and promise 'Her light was extinguished far too soon. Her life was filled with dreams, laughter and love. Let us carry her memory forward. She has gone home,' family spokesperson Criselda Kananda told mourners. CONTINUE READING: WATCH: Olorato Mongale remembered as 'light extinguished too soon', police vow action Afrikaner 'refugees' continue to arrive in US on commercial flights – reports More Afrikaners reportedly continue to leave South Africa for the United States as part of the Afrikaner resettlement programme offered by President Donald Trump. Picture for illustration. A group of Afrikaners gathered outside the American Embassy in Pretoria to deliver a memorandum to US President Donald Trump. Picture: Nigel Sibanda /The Citizen Relations between South Africa and the US have been on shaky ground amid false claims of a white genocide from the Trump administration and the signing of the Expropriation Bill. CONTINUE READING: Afrikaner 'refugees' continue to arrive in US on commercial flights – reports 'Looting using matric papers': Why did NW printing job price jump by around R100m? There are concerns of possible 'looting' and corruption within the North West education department after it signed a new matric paper printing job that costs four times what it did last year. Anxious student sitting for examination in a school hall. Picture: Stock The department has disputed the amount, but revealed the actual amount is over R100 million. It justified the cost by saying it included not only printing but also other logistics like storage and distribution. CONTINUE READING: 'Looting using matric papers': Why did NW printing job price jump by around R100m? You can still play Lotto today, after last-minute announcement There will be no disruptions to lottery operations as Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has appointed a temporary licensee. Picture: Stock Tau announced on Saturday that he has concluded successful negotiations with Ithuba Holdings and signed a temporary licence agreement for them to operate the National Lottery and Sports Pool for a period of 12 months, effective from 1 June 2025. CONTINUE READING: You can still play Lotto today, after last-minute announcement Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Suspect cleared in kidnapping case| SA mourns journalist Andrew Trench| Tshwane water warning
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Gayton predicts Joslin's mom Kelly Smith will CONFESS in jail
Gayton McKenzie has reacted to the life sentence imposed on Kelly Smith for trafficking and kidnapping her own daughter, Joslin Smith. The Minister of Sport, Art and Culture condemned the Saldanha Bay woman, who has been convicted of being the 'mastermind'. Kelly and her co-offenders, Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis and Steven van Rhyn, were sentenced by Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus on Thursday. Joslin went missing on 19 February 2024. She has yet to be found. In a Facebook Live over the weekend, Gayton McKenzie reacted to the life sentence imposed on Kelly Smith, Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn. A week after Joslin's disappearance, Gayton arrived in Saldanha Bay, where he launched a search party and even befriended the trio. Condemning Kelly, he said, 'There's no mother in this world who will not testify [during court]. No mother will not give information that might get her child back. Kelly is a dark person'. He continued: 'The moment I met Kelly, I knew she was guilty. Not because I'm smart, but because I spent my whole youth in jail. I've met the worst of the worst in life.' Gayton lauded the High Court judge, state prosecutors, and community members for their work in investigating and convicting the trio. He vowed to continue his search for Joslin, who has been missing. He continued: 'I might not have found Joslin, but we found the people who sold her. We're still going to get her; we are not going to stop looking.g 'We haven't found Joslin, but we've found justice for Joslin'. @l_keezy021 Gayton McKenzie talks about Kelly Smith, Boeta Appollis and Steveno Van Rhyn getting life in prison for selling Joshlin #southafricatiktok #joshlinsmith #joslinsmith #kellysmith #cwecwe #latestnews #incaseyoumissedit #gaytonmckenzie #southafricantiktok🇿🇦 #fyp #fypageシ #fypp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – L_Keezy021 Also in the Facebook Live, Gayton McKenzie shared his predictions that Kelly Smith couple soon reveal all. He added: 'She is going to rot in jail….Prison does something to people. Very soon, she will start confessing'. Last month, Gayton McKenzie announced that he officially registered a foundation in Joslin Smith's name. The NGO would assist the families of missing children around South Africa. He shared in a Facebook post: 'The foundation will donate money next week to secure the schooling of the brother and sister of Joslin'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
IFP mourns the loss of senior MP fatally shot in Katlehong
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) confirmed the death of senior member Khethamabala Petros Sithole, who was fatally shot in Katlehong on the East Rand on Saturday evening. Sithole, 68, served as the deputy chief whip in the National Assembly and was a long-standing member of the party's National Council. Furthermore, the IFP has condemned the killing as an 'assassination' and called for swift justice. 'Details are still sketchy at the moment, and it is the IFP's expectation that the law enforcement agencies will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,' the party said in a statement. Furthermore, Sithole dedicated his life to the IFP, joining the party in his youth and serving in numerous leadership roles. He was Gauteng provincial chairperson and an Ekurhuleni councillor and briefly represented the party in the Gauteng legislature from 2009 to 2010. Since 2010, he has served as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, remaining active until his death. Known for his commitment to community service and party discipline, Sithole was praised by the IFP as 'a hard-working servant leader of the people and the country.' The party added, 'The IFP is poorer today with Jobe's passing, and South Africa has lost a good man who served his country par excellence.' Additionally, the motive for the killing remains unknown. Police have launched an investigation, but no suspects have been identified. As IFP reels from this loss, one question remains: will justice be swift enough to restore public confidence and honour the life of a man devoted to public service? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
