The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal ordered Councilor Sphile Mdaka to resign as deputy mayor of Umkhanyakude with immediate effect, saying his election on Oct. 30, 2025, was not approved by the party and did not reflect its mandate. The directive follows his ouster as mayor on Oct. 3 in a no-confidence vote driven by the Inkatha Freedom Party and National Freedom Party, exposing strains in the province’s Government of Provincial Unity, formed after the May 2024 election produced no majority.
The party praised Mdaka’s prior efforts to stabilize the municipality but said accepting the deputy post undermined accountability. Umkhanyakude, on the border with Mozambique and Eswatini, has battled service failures and financial trouble, serving more than 700,000 residents across rural and coastal areas. Auditor-General findings cite irregular spending of more than R200 million in recent years and weak controls, while residents have protested over water shortages, rough roads, and unreliable power. Coalition partners have traded blame, and the province’s cooperative governance department moved in early October to push a special council meeting. Analysts warn that further rifts between the ANC and IFP could unsettle local governance.
The party praised Mdaka’s prior efforts to stabilize the municipality but said accepting the deputy post undermined accountability. Umkhanyakude, on the border with Mozambique and Eswatini, has battled service failures and financial trouble, serving more than 700,000 residents across rural and coastal areas. Auditor-General findings cite irregular spending of more than R200 million in recent years and weak controls, while residents have protested over water shortages, rough roads, and unreliable power. Coalition partners have traded blame, and the province’s cooperative governance department moved in early October to push a special council meeting. Analysts warn that further rifts between the ANC and IFP could unsettle local governance.
