Former Jozini Municipality Mayor, Mfananaye Mathe, has launched a scathing attack on the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), accusing it of failing dismally to provide clean water to the residents of Manufacture.

Mathe stated that President Cyril Ramaphosa would be deeply shocked if he were to witness the severe poverty and underdevelopment endured by the local community, especially given that matric students in the region consistently pass their examinations with flying colors.

Mathe made these remarks on Monday during a community event welcoming him as a new member of the Jozini Congress, a political party founded last year by local residents.

He explicitly blamed the governing coalition at Umkhanyakude—which comprises the IFP, the African National Congress (ANC), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)—for neglecting the basic needs of the people.

According to Mathe, this power-sharing alliance has severely harmed residents by failing to resolve the long-standing water crisis despite jointly managing the municipality.

Reflecting on his ousting from office in May last year, Mathe stated that he returned home but never stopped working for his community.
Addressing rumors that the Jozini Congress intends to field him as its mayoral candidate for Umkhanyakude in future elections, he expressed shock, noting he was unaware of the plan.

Mathe firmly stated that if leadership means sitting in an office all day, he would decline the position, describing himself as a hands-on leader who prefers working directly on the ground with ordinary citizens. Mathe’s political career has been marked by significant controversy.

During his tenure, he fell out with the IFP leadership after being implicated as one of the ringleaders behind a signed petition attempting to oust the IFP federal president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, in favor of KZN Premier Thami Ntuli.

Other prominent IFP mayors allegedly involved in the plot included King Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala (uThukela), Xolani Ngwezi (uMhlathuze), Lindokuhle Shabalala (Nquthu), Prince Ndabuko Zulu (Majuba), and Mduduzi “Sobho” Myeza (Inkosi Langalibalele).

This internal rebellion reportedly upset the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who personally intervened to reinstate Hlabisa.

Furthermore, Mathe faced intense scrutiny from the ANC over a R3 million budget allocated for a winter school feeding program for matriculants.
The ANC alleged widespread corruption, claiming that the actual food purchased did not exceed R500,000.

Mathe defended his administration, later announcing that the remaining R2.5 million had been safely returned to the municipality’s budget to fund other community development projects.

Mathe originally assumed the mayoral seat during a highly tense council session in 2021 when IFP and EFF councillors initially plotted to elect someone else.

His election was ultimately secured through the emergency intervention of senior IFP leader Thembeni kaMadlopha Mthethwa.

This saved a crucial 2019 national cooperation agreement between the ANC and the IFP, which had guaranteed the IFP the chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) in Parliament, led by Mkhuleko Hlengwa.

Despite the political turbulence, Mathe earned widespread respect for his work ethic, even receiving praise from political rivals within the ANC.

This dedicated approach earned him the nickname “King of Mayors.” Former ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, Bheki Mtolo, humorously dubbed him “Majazana” due to his penchant for wearing oversized suits.

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