Speaker Mbatha’s IFP membership terminated

Endumeni is now without a Mayor and a Speaker.  The IFP’s NEC announced today that Speaker Bongiwe Mbatha-Makhathini’s membership of the party has been terminated which effectively means she can no longer hold office on behalf of the IFP.

Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP National Spokesperson, said in a statement to the Courier said the ‘IFP’s NEC’s consistent ongoing monitoring and evaluation over municipalities that the IFP governs,  resolved on September 10 to recall the Mayor and Speaker of Endumeni municipality. This was done to restore order and stability to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.’

Mayor SR Mbatha complied and resigned from office on October 25. However, Speaker Mbatha initially agreed with the resolution, but later refused to comply.

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“Through the Daily Management Committee (DMC) and the Political Oversight Committee (POC) the Party tried to convince her to comply with the recall but she, the Speaker, remained defiant,” said Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP National Spokesperson. He said the party instituted disciplinary proceedings. The Speaker tried to interdict this process through court action and was unsuccessful, he concluded.

Mr Hlengwa said ‘this frank action by the IFP upholds our commitment to clean and stable governance’.
The POC will now make the necessary changes to enable the municipality to elect a new Mayor and Speaker.

The Courier contacted Mrs Mbatha-Makhathini for comment but she did not respond.