Former eThekwini deputy mayor and Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) president Philani Mavundla has been fired from his party. Mavundla jumped ship from NFP and founded the party three years ago. In a letter seen by ZiMoja, Mavundla was fired over the weekend after the party's National Disciplinary Comitee (NDC) met to discuss his future with the party.

The letter addressed to the Speaker of Umvoti Local Municipality Mfundo Masondo reads: "The letter serves to notify you that following the discliplinary hearing of Mr Mavundla, the NDC of Abantu Botho Congress has expelled Mr Mavundla. Please remove Mr Mavundla as a councillor in your municipality with immediate effect." The letter was signed by national chairperson Bhungu Gwala. Replying to the letter, Mavundla submitted his own to the speaker denying his dismissal. "We would like to address the recent circulation of fake news regarding the alleged expulsion of ABC president PG Mavundla from the political party. We categorically state that this information is entirely false. Contrary to the claims made in a recent media briefing by a rogue entity, no such expulsion has taken place within the ABC political party. Mr Mavundla continues to hold his position as the president of the party and there have been no discussions or actions taken to remove him from his role," the letter said.

Mavundla,who is currently the mayor of the Umvoti Local Municipality, claims the source of the ongoing conflict between him and Gwala started when he questioned the decision by the municipality to sponsor Umvoti FC without following due processes. Mavundla alleged that the football club is owned by one Gwala's sons. "As ABC political party, we remain committed to transparency and accountability, and we look forward to addressing the emergence of this rogue group among other issues at the upcoming NDC, which will be held on Saturday," Mavundla said. Mavundla is not new to controversy, in 2021 he formed a coalition government with the ANC in eThekwini and a bloc of smaller parties which propelled him to the position of deputy mayor and human settlements and infrastructure committee chairperson at the municipality. Mavundla is also known as a big ally of former President Jacob Zuma.