Mncwango’s wife defects

The IFP has been dealt another heavy blow ahead of the local government elections, with the wife of the party’s national organiser, Albert Mncwango, joining the National Freedom Party.

Contacted for comment, the organiser appeared not to know that his wife had defected.

Sanelisiwe Audrey Mncwango on Tuesday met NFP leader Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi and other party members at Park Rynie on the South Coast, where the party was finalising its list of election candidates, which has to be submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission by Friday.

Her defection follows the recent exodus of more than 100 IFP councillors to the NFP.

Mncwango had been an IFP member for 30 years and a former deputy chairwoman of the party’s women’s brigade. She said she had left the IFP because of constant persecution by the party’s leaders, without being given opportunity to defend herself.

She said she had told her husband of her abuse at the hands of the IFP, but this had had no effect.

“Bad-mouthing is a popular thing in the IFP. I do not know how many times I have been bad-mouthed to the party’s leader by other members,” she said.

“My husband’s silence has also made me leave the IFP.”

Mncwango said the last straw came when a team of IFP members visited her and instructed her to remove herself from all party structures.

“I have been abused by members of this party, yet I have never had a chance to voice my concerns. Now I want to use my right and choose a party that is progressive.”

Mncwango, who is the community services manager at KwaNongoma municipality, was welcomed by NFP officials including Wiseman Mcoyi and Mzonjani Zulu at the party’s Durban offices in Glenwood on Monday.

She paid R20 for her membership card and signed up as a member.

Her husband sounded shocked when The Mercury contacted him for comment.

“I have never heard of it. I need to talk to my wife before I can give you a comment.”

He said, however, that if it was true his wife had defected, there could be “serious implications”. He wouldn’t elaborate.

IFP secretary-general Musa Zondi said the party was unaware Mncwango had left the party.

He said the IFP had not suspended her, but officials had visited her.

“We had a team in Nongoma which visited Mrs Mncwango after rumours she wanted to be elected as a councillor in the coming elections.”

Zondi said she had been advised by the team that she could not stand for election while still a municipal official. - The Mercury