Durban — The Ray Nkonyeni Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast has been without a Speaker for more than seven months owing to the infighting in the ANC in that region, which has stalled the election of a Speaker.
The delay in electing the Speaker was baffling to opposition parties and residents, considering that the ANC enjoyed a majority with 37 seats from the 71 council seats against the opposition’s combined 35 seats.
Should the ANC lose the two wards after Wednesday’s by-elections, it would drop to 35 seats, while the opposition would increase to 36 seats, giving it the supreme power to elect the mayor, deputy and Speaker in the municipality.
This would change the balance of forces in favour of the opposition, which includes the IFP, the DA and the ATM unless the ANC formed a coalition with smaller parties to cling to power.
Outspoken local IFP councillor Sifiso Ngwane pinned the blame for the delay in the election of the Speaker on ANC’s factional battles.
“The ANC has failed the people of Ray Nkonyeni. We have been without a Speaker because the ANC is not sure who to pick as Speaker from its leaders in the council. But this will change from tomorrow (Thursday) after the by-elections taking place today (Wednesday),” said Ngwane.
ANC councillors Phumlani Gumbi and councillor Thuleleni Khanyase were said to be eyeing the position of Speaker, which has allegedly deepened the factions in the ANC, leaving the party in a bind.
Since the 2021 local polls, the ANC enjoyed a majority with 37 seats, compared to the opposition's combined 34.
However, its strength to cling to its majority was tested on Wednesday during the two by-elections in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, as KZN held nine by-elections.
The two wards were left vacant after the ANC Ward 14 councillor Sabelo Malunga, who was suspected of collaborating with uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), resigned in May, while Ward 24 councillor Sihle Ndlela died in June after a long illness.
Ward 14 was contested by the Nokwazi Masabala (IAC), Wonderboy Shinga (ANC), Vumani Madlala (IFP) and Thamsanqa Madlala (uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
On the hand, Ward 24 was challenged by Thabiso Jingela (ANC), Sbonelo Mbhele (IFP) and Themba Zondo (uMkhonto weSizwe Party).
Mafika Mndebele, the spokesperson of the crisis-plagued ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, vowed the party would install the Speaker “soon”.
He told Daily News, “I assure you that consultations have been done, and the deployment committee will finalise soon. But there is total agreement on the name (for Speaker position).”
Mafika said there was no disagreement on the name of the person the party would be forwarding as speaker candidate.
“We finalised the name of the person,” he said.
He added, though, that the election of the Speaker would not happen this month.
Contrary to claims of infighting, he said the election of the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality Speaker was derailed by the May elections, where the party lost its majority in the province and nationally.
The bruising defeat forced the ANC to co-govern with other parties, such as the DA and IFP, under the Government of National Unity (GNU) and Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).
The role of the speaker included ensuring that the council meets at least quarterly, maintaining order during meetings and ensuring compliance in the council and council committees in line with the Code of Conduct of councillors.
The ANC region on the south coast has been locked in long-running squabbling, which once resulted in the delay of the election of the Ray Nkonyeni mayor months after the 2021 local government elections.
The DA urged the erstwhile MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka to intervene at the time and end the impasse.
The infighting still lingers, and now has stalled the election of the speaker.
The municipality was formed after the merger of Ezinqoleni and the Hibiscus Coast local municipalities after the 2016 local government elections.
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Daily News