The ANC has once again come to the rescue of its splinter party, the EFF and it is donating an exco seat to it.
The seat donation is meant to pave the way for the EFF to eventually notch the lucrative position of the deputy mayor in the troubled Nongoma local municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
This follows a decision by the EFF in March this year to fire the former deputy mayor Sabelo Nkosi. He was fired after he was arrested for corruption, fraud and money laundering together with the mayor Clifford Ndabandaba (from the National Freedom Party – NFP) and the speaker Babongile Sithole from the ANC.
Vacant post
The EFF’s move left the position of the deputy mayor vacant. And the ANC-NFP-EFF coalition was left unable to muscle out the IFP and pass resolutions like tabling the 2025-2026 budget.
In order for the EFF to continue to occupy the position, one of its councillors must serve in the decision-making executive committee (exco). Hence the ANC is now surrendering one of its seats to the red party.
The proposal to surrender the seat is contained in a letter dated June 3 2025. It was written by the ANC’s chief whip in the council, Lindiwe Buthelezi. And it was addressed to the speaker and acting municipal manager, Mpumelelo Mnguni.
The proposal is expected to be ratified in a special council meeting billed for Thursday, 5 June 2025.
“Having consulted internally and in the spirit of cooperative governance and multi-party governance, the ANC caucus proposes that the said vacant seat be filled by councillor Nomthandazo Asandi Manqele, an elected PR councillor representing the EFF.
Offer made in good faith
“The nomination is made in good faith. And it is aligned with the principles of inclusivity, council stability, and effective service delivery.
“It further reflects our commitment to strengthening participatory governance through strategic collaboration,” reads Buthelezi’s letter.
ANC regional secretary in the Mzala Nxumalo region, Ntokozo Nxumalo, confirmed the matter. He told Sunday World that they are donating their seat to the EFF.
“The EFF in Nongoma Municipality does not qualify to have an exco seat because of their numbers. To be elected as mayor or deputy mayor, you need to be in Exco.
“Mr Nkosi, the former deputy mayor, was using the ANC Exco seat. Therefore, the letter that you saw from the ANC whip was reaffirming the position of the ANC on the issue of the ANC Exco seat,” Nxumalo said.
