FORMER eThekwini deputy mayor, Philani Mavundla, is the new mayor of Umvoti Municipality, again.
Mavundla, who is the president of Abantu Batho Congress (ABC), was ousted as deputy mayor earlier in 2023.
He was voted as the new mayor of Umvoti at a special council meeting hosted by KZN Cogta on Wednesday, 21 June after several disputes.
The tycoon is returning to rule Umvoti for the second time after he was the municipality's mayor from 2011 to 2013 under the ANC, where he surprised many as he voluntarily did not get paid.
After the 2021 local government elections, Mavundla’s party ABC formed a coalition with IFP. But they later dumped the IFP and turned to the ANC, which caused a dispute during the council meeting.
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Mavundla, who also owns a mall called Mavundla Square in his rural home in Greytown, told Daily Sun that he'll work to unite the political parties under the municipality to fast track service delivery.
“I would like to thank all those who voted for me to be a mayor again, and I thank my political party ABC because they are the ones who brought me here,” he said.
KZN Cogta MEC Bongiwe Sithole Moloi welcomed the election of a new leadership in the Umvoti Municipality following her department's intervention.
“The intervention was carried out in accordance with section 29(1A) of the municipal structures, which empowers MEC to intervene when a municipality fails to fulfill its mandate.
“We entrusted Thando Tubane, the head of department with overseeing the council meeting process following a request by majority of the council members” she said.
