The battle for the soul of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) province intensified on Tuesday when the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members announced they were leaving the party for Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). Some of the red berets in the province left the party after it announced its coalition with ANC in the province. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Abaqulusi PR councillors at a press conference. This means the IFP has full control of the municipalities they were governing with the help of EFF councillors in the province. 

EXODUS OF EFF COUNCILLORS  

Addressing the media, IFP's King Cetshwayo District Mayor Thami Ntuli said that the growth of the IFP in KZN was because of the unholy marriage between the ANC and the EFF.  "The mass exodus of EFF leadership to the IFP yet again shows that the IFP is the only hope for the province of KZN. The IFP is the only party that can save the people of the KZN from the corruption and mismanagement of the ANC. We therefore warmly welcome these EFF leaders to the IFP today. We will work with them in Zululand and the rest of the province to reach our goals and dislodge the ANC in 2024," mayor Ntuli said. 

VOICE NOTE 

There has been a voice note circulating on social media where an EFF councillor is accusing the IFP in the province of recruiting councillors from other political parties to join them. The ANC in Mzala Nxumalo Region in Vryheid said they have noted the voice note that they believe confirms the ?rot' in IFP controlled municipalities under Zululand. The voice note purportedly of an EFF councillor, alleges that Zululand Mayor Dr Thulasizwe Buthelezi is behind recruiting people from other parties to join the IFP. 

 EFF COUNCILLORS FIRED 

The EFF on Monday announced that they have fired two councillors, former regional secretary of the EFF Bongimpilo Nhlengethwa and Zanele Nzuza. The EFF said Nhlengethwa was fired for recruiting the party members to join the IFP to weaken the red berets in the province. Nhlengethwa was revealed as the new IFP member on Tuesday alongside PR councillor Zanele Nzuza who was also in the same Abaqulusi Local Municipality in Vryheid.  

 
ANC WANTS IFP INVESTIGATED 

In a statement on Tuesday, the ANC Regional Secretary Ntokozo Nxumalo called for a thorough investigation into the recruitment processes of councillors who resigned from their parties and resurfaced as municipal workers in IFP controlled municipalities in the Zululand district. "This is in addition, to our call for the investigation of employment of unqualified managers. We have been receiving information from IFP leaders and their supporters about a practice of elevating unqualified municipal workers into senior positions in these municipalities," Nxumalo said.  Nxumalo further said the ANC once called for the investigation into the appointment of the uPhongolo Local Municipality municipal manager Bethuel Khali who has no formal qualification. "The organisation claimed that they are yet to be furnished with academic records of Abaqulusi Local Municipality Manager Zwelihle Dhlamini. Dhlamini claimed to have studied law part time at the University of Johannesburg. This is in addition to another well-known fabrication that he studied a police science degree whilst working as a police officer before his employment by an IFP controlled Ulundi Local Municipality," he said.