The deputy mayoral position in Umzumbe Municipality, previously occupied by the ANC, could go to the IFP.
This comes after the ANC in KZN recalled its suspended deputy mayor, Mhlengi Luthuli.
The ANC also asked Luthuli to resign as deputy mayor on Tuesday last week.
Umzumbe Municipality is now a hung council after the recent by-elections, which led to the ANC losing its majority.
Now, the IFP and ANC both have 17 councillors in Umzumbe.
In a letter to Luthuli, the ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo said with the ANC being out of power means it must work with other parties to govern.
He said they consulted with the IFP and agreed to work together to form a government.
“We agreed that the ANC will take the position of mayor, council chief whip, and head the Municipal Public Accounts Committee while the IFP will take the position of deputy mayor and speaker,” said Mtolo.
He added the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee decided that for that decision to be sanctioned, Luthuli must resign as deputy mayor of the ANC.
Mtolo said: “This serves to request you (Luthuli) to furnish us with a resignation letter for the position of deputy mayor of Umzumbe.”
The speaker position in Umzumbe, formally occupied by the ANC, remained vacant after the expulsion of Sbonelo Maphumulo, who later joined the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party.
IFP chief whip in Umzumbe Municipality, Simphiwe ‘Jika’ Mthethwa, confirmed current talks between the ANC and Inkatha since the two parties have equal seats in council.
Recently, there were attempts to overthrow Bongani Nyuswa as Umzumbe mayor through a motion of no confidence that was later ruled unlawful. During those attempts, Mlungisi Ndlovu was elected as mayor.
Speaking to Fever, Mthethwa said he cannot say whether Ndlovu will take the position of deputy mayor.
He added that he cannot confirm whether the IFP will take the two said positions by the ANC.
“We will have to wait for our leadership to communicate with us regarding the way forward after talks have been concluded,” said Mthethwa.
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