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Floor crossing benefits ANC, IFP

After a slow start, floor crossing in KwaZulu-Natal is gaining momentum. The ANC and the IFP benefited for the first time since the window period opened last week.

The ANC, which seems on the verge of taking control of the wealthy Umhlathuze municipality, welcomed two councillors at the weekend.

The councillors who jumped ship and joined the ANC, to give it 30 seats in a 60-member council, are the DA's Raphael Zikhali and the ACDP's Kevin Sukraben.

The IFP was on cloud nine yesterday. It welcomed two defectors to its ranks - one from the ANC and the other from Nadeco.

The IFP, which opposes floor- crossing legislation, said it would welcome anyone who wished to join the party.

ANC councillor in the eNdumeni municipality, Thandanani Mkhize and Nadeco councillor Senzo Masuku, who was the speaker of the Mpukunyoni municipality, defected to the IFP.

eNdumeni municipality made media headlines last week with the arrests of its mayor, Thandeka Nukani, her brother and boyfriend on allegations of murder. She was released due tofor the lack of evidence. Blessed Gwala, IFP deputy chairman in the province, said they were "over the moon" when the two councillors joined their party.

He said it was a clear indication that politicians had realised that the IFP was the best party.

l Meanwhile, former Nadeco leader, Ziba Jiyane, launched a new party, called South African Democratic Congress, (Sadeco) on Saturday.

Sadeco is expected to shape the political landscape in municipalities like Ilembe, Umzinyathi, AmaJuba and wealthy uMhlathuze.

Jiyane expected many councillors from Nadeco to join him. Three of them had already done so. - Canaan Mdletshe

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