Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Nongoma come from
Every fact on the Nongoma page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
As of 19 Mar 2026: The IFP won wards 7 and 20 from the NFP in March 2026 by-elections. A ward is an area with its own councillor. The IFP now has an outright majority on the Nongoma council, with 23 of 45 seats. The NFP fell from 13 to 11 seats. The ANC has 8.
Daily Maverick. Published 19 March 2026.
Where to look: Ward 20 (Bungazeleni Manzimakhulu) entry, closing paragraph on council arithmetic; Ward 7 entry
As of 9 Jul 2025: Mayor Mshangane Ndabandaba of the NFP and Speaker Babongile Sithole of the ANC were removed in a no-confidence vote in July 2025. The IFP's Mbekezeli Zondo was elected mayor. The EFF's Mthokozisi Luvuno was elected deputy mayor.
Sowetan. Published 9 July 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 2-4
As of 26 Feb 2023: The Pietermaritzburg High Court set aside (cancelled) the February 2023 council sitting that removed the IFP mayor. It also interdicted those elected at it from holding office, until it receives further submissions.
Cape Argus. Published 26 February 2023.
Where to look: paragraphs 3, 8 and 9
As of 21 Feb 2023: A coalition of the NFP, ANC and EFF replaced the IFP mayor and speaker (the councillor who chairs council meetings) in February 2023. The NFP's Mshangane Ndabandaba was elected mayor.
The Herald. Published 21 February 2023.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-4 and 6
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 45 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 2 of 2, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). Inkatha Freedom Party: 23 (22 ward, 1 party). National Freedom Party: 11 (1 ward, 10 party). African National Congress: 8 (0 ward, 8 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). National People's Front: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 45 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Nongoma a qualified audit opinion for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
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