Party discipline meets municipal law

In a move that has sparked confusion and debate in Impendle, four ANC councillors who were recently suspended by the party will continue carrying out their official responsibilities, according to the local mayor.

The clarification comes after the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Task Team (PTT) announced the immediate suspension of councillors Malcom Dlamini, Nokuvela Ngcobo, Wonderful Zibuse Dlamini and Thabani Makhaye, who represent Wards 2 to 5 in the rural municipality.

While the party action was swift, the municipality says governance and service delivery, will not be disrupted.

Why the ANC suspended them

According to ANC provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi, the suspensions were formally adopted on 6 February 2026 under Rule 25.60 of the ANC Constitution, which allows temporary suspensions in exceptional cases.

The councillors are accused of defying the ANC caucus’s official position and undermining party discipline, unity and cohesion a serious charge in a province where internal divisions have often spilled into council chambers.

Mayor draws a firm legal line

Impendle Mayor Kwenzakufani Dlamini moved quickly to separate party discipline from municipal authority, emphasising that political parties do not have the power to remove councillors from office.

“Despite this party action, the affected councillors will continue to perform their duties and responsibilities as elected representatives of the people,” Dlamini said, stressing that the municipality’s priority remains service delivery.

He explained that under the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act of 1998, only the municipal council itself can suspend or remove a councillor and only after a strict legal process.

What the law actually says

The mayor outlined the steps required for any councillor to be suspended or removed:

• A formal investigation into alleged misconduct

• A report presented to council

• A properly convened council meeting

• A majority (often two-thirds) vote

• Full procedural fairness, including the councillor’s right to respond

Only once these steps are followed can a councillor legally be removed, with vacancies filled according to electoral rules. Any councillor may also challenge the decision in court if due process is not followed.

Community reaction: confusion, but cautious relief

In Impendle, a municipality where residents are acutely sensitive to service delivery delays news of the suspensions initially raised concerns about stalled projects and ward-level access to councillors.

On local WhatsApp groups and community forums, residents questioned whether internal ANC battles would derail everyday governance. The mayor’s assurance that councillors will remain on duty has been met with cautious relief, though some residents say the situation highlights deeper political tensions.

Keeping the focus on service delivery

Mayor Dlamini insisted that municipal work will continue uninterrupted.

“Our focus remains on delivering services, addressing community needs, and working together for a better Impendle,” he said, urging residents to remain calm and continue engaging their ward councillors.

In a province where political instability has often translated into governance paralysis, Impendle’s stance sends a clear message: party politics may rage on, but municipal work must go on.