Durban — Former uMuziwabantu Local Municipality deputy mayor Mondli Ncayiyane in Harding, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, has vowed to win back his Ward 11 and return to the council after a by-election next month.
Ncayiyane who is widely known as a sheikh, a pastor in Islam religion, resigned as deputy mayor, a councillor and a leader of Al Jama-ah party in July and founded his own party the Sun which he launched on Friday in Harding.
Buoyed by the huge attendance at his new party launch he told the Daily News on Sunday that he was adamant that he would retain his ward easily and go back to the council so that he continues fighting for the people to get services.
“The people of Ward 11 still believe in my leadership and when I resigned from Al Jama-ah and as councillor I informed them so I am happy that they came out in big numbers to attend our new party launch,” said Ncayiyane.
He said his reasons for leaving Al Jama-ah was because of the party’s marriage with the ANC which he did not like, adding he was driven by principles rather than material benefits which is why he was prepared to leave all benefits that came with being a deputy mayor.
After last year’s local government elections, Ncayiyane won Ward 11 and the proportional representation councillor also came from Al Jama-ah because of his popularity.
The ward was previously under the ANC.
In a 21-seat council the ANC got 10 followed by IFP, Al Jama-ah –2, EFF – 2, DA – 1 and ABC – 1.
The municipality became one of the hung municipalities which forced parties to form a coalition.
Because of the ANC’s agreement with Al Jama-ah national leader Ganief Hendricks, Ncayiyane worked with the ANC in Harding and was appointed as the deputy mayor although he personally did not like the agreement.
After eight months into the position, he resigned from Al Jama-ah which also forced him to resign as a councillor which paved the way for a by-election which would be held on October 12.
Daily News