NFP looks to take Nongoma
THE NFP has embarked on coalition negotiations with opposition parties to oust the
IFP in Nongoma following the outcome of a by-election last Wednesday.
This was revealed by NFP Secretary General Canaan Mdletshe after receiving the byelection results.
Nongoma is regarded as an
IFP stronghold, but the result could see the party seated on the opposition benches.
Ward 17 was won by the late NFP candidate Dumisani Qwabe, who was killed just five days before the elections.
The NFP retained this ward, with Bongukwazi Sonbon Mbatha installed as councillor.
It also won ward 20 which was under the late IFP councillor Zamani Sibiya who died shortly after the elections.
NFP councillor Nkokhelo Msomi will now take over the ward.
The IFP currently controls Nongoma Municipality through an EFF coalition, with 22 of the 44 council seats.
The NFP has 14 seats, ANC eight, National People’s Front (NPF) one, the EFF two, while the IFP has 20.
Mdletshe said they are facilitating negotiations with other opposition parties to snatch Nongoma Municipality from the IFP.
‘Our negotiations are under way and once we reach an agreement, our councillors could remove the IFP from leadership,’ said Mdletshe.
He added that an agreement had been reached with ‘one of the political parties’.
‘The electorate has spoken. We are humbled by the support we received from voters, especially when most political analysts were of the view that our party was dead,' said Mdletshe.
He said they are also working on renewing branch membership countrywide in preparation for the 2024 general election.