IFP pleads with voters ‘not to lose faith in the party’
"As a political party, we should not be separating our followers as this is killing the party. We are also hoping that with the upcoming by-elections we will once again win in Sithembile."
The IFP has denied that Mayor Thabani Molotshwa was fired because he ‘betrayed the party’.
Mr Molotshwa was voted in as Mayor late last year after he appeared to back the ANC – contrary to the IFP/DA/EFF co-governance agreement. That saw the ANC take the positions of Speaker, Deputy Mayor and Mayor.
However, rumours were that the IFP had terminated Mr Molotshwa’s party membership. As he is a Ward Councillor in Ward 3 (Sithembile) Mr Molotshwa is by operation of law still a Councillor until the IEC declares an election.
It is understood that the ANC Deputy Mayor Mdluli is acting Mayor. Mr Molotshwa could not be raised for comment.
Xolani Msizane, IFP publicist, said the ‘party’s side of the story had to be told’.
More on the background as Mayor Molotshwa was elected:
Scuffles outside Municipality following shock voting in of Mayor …
Shooting outside municipality as Endumeni drama deepens …
Council facing MEC’s deadline today?
“The IFP recognises the Cogta appointed- administrator at Endumeni, However, it surprises us that Cogta only puts the municipality under administrator now but couldn’t do so in 2011- 2015 when the district was still under the ANC.
“Endumeni Municipality was unstable then and the MEC never did anything about that, but since IFP came to power the MEC now acts. We as a party are all for internal and external investigators to root out corruption in Endumeni and all those found guilty should be dealt with. However, we disagree about the rumor of former Mayor Thabani Mlotshwa being fired because he betrayed the party – there is no proof of that”.
However, it is not clear as to why he was fired.
Mr Msizane also emphasised about doing away with camps within the party as this has led to IFP followers losing faith in the party”.
“As a political party, we should not be separating our followers as this is killing the party. We are also hoping that with the upcoming by-elections we will once again win in Sithembile.” He added the IFP has launched its election manifesto and hopes that the ‘people of Endumeni can still trust them in providing better services to all.’
