Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

Twenty-five former IFP members in the Amajuba district in KwaZulu-Natal have defected to the ANC.

The group is led by former IFP speaker Wessel Hadebe, a well-known businessman in the area.

Hadebe said his move was prompted by a search for political stability. "I was accused of being ANC because I stood up against dirty elements.

"People in the ward were also denied development because I did not agree with certain leaders in the district," he said.

Hadebe said he had written a letter to IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi complaining about the action of the party's oversight committee after he was sidelined.

"The oversight committee excluded me," he said.

"The ANC is now my new home and I'm positive that the ANC will reclaim the district and the local municipality."

Hadebe said the ANC had won the district through the ballot box but the IFP colluded with other parties to oust them.

The ANC lost the Amajuba district and the Newcastle municipality to the IFP after they joined forces with the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) and the DA to pass a vote of no confidence in the ANC.

ANC provincial spokesman Nomfundo Mcetywa said they were happy to welcome 25 members from the IFP to their ranks.

Meanwhile, at the ANC Emalahleni elective conference in Newcastle on Sunday, Arthur Zwane was re-elected as the chairman, Jabulile Khumalo as his deputy, Ntokozo Mhlungu as secretary, Sipho Nkosi as deputy secretary and Afzul Rehman as treasurer.