Just a fortnight ago — and again on Monday — the ANC promised to give the IFP hell from the opposition benches in Nquthu. But on Tuesday they surrendered meekly as their rival’s candidates were elected unopposed as mayor‚ deputy mayor and speaker. With barely a peep from the ANC‚ Siyabonga Mabilabila Kunene was named mayor of the embattled northern KwaZulu-Natal municipality‚ with Nothing Maria Zungu named his deputy, and Mbongeni Mnguni named speaker. This follows a 10-month leadership vacuum‚ during which the council could not elect office bearers due to a stalemate between coalitions led by the IFP and the ANC. A smiling Kunene clenched his fist as the provincial MEC for agriculture and rural development‚ Themba Mthembu‚ and municipal manager Bongi Gumbi, stepped forward to put the mayoral chain around his neck. This was after IFP councilors and supporters from the gallery demanded that he be receive the mayoral chain immediately.
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