Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about uPhongolo come from
Every fact on the uPhongolo 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 1 Jul 2026: The IFP governs uPhongolo in partnership with the DA. On 1 July 2026, the IFP announced the expulsion of six of its uPhongolo councillors. This came after an ANC-preferred speaker candidate was elected in April 2026. Only six of the IFP's 14 councillors attended that council meeting.
The Witness. Published 1 July 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-3, 'The IFP is governing the Opongolo Municipality in partnership with the DA' and 'Only six of the IFP's 14 councillors attended...'
As of 14 Jun 2026: ANC councillor Celiwe Nxumalo was elected speaker by 18 votes to the IFP's 10. Six votes came from beyond the ANC, EFF and NFP. Of the three office-bearers, the mayor is the only IFP member left. The IFP planned to expel six ward councillors.
IOL. Published 14 June 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 3-5 and 9
As of 28 Nov 2025: Cllr BJ Thwala was mayor and Cllr BES Ntshangase was deputy mayor in the year ended 30 June 2025. Cllr KE Nxumalo was speaker. This is from the audited annual financial statements (accounts checked by an auditor). They do not state the parties.
uPhongolo Local Municipality. Published 28 November 2025.
Where to look: page 1, General Information; approval on page 3 dated 28 November 2025
As of 3 Apr 2025: The ANC won ward 12 in a by-election on 2 April 2025. After this, the IFP lost its outright majority on the uPhongolo council. The IFP fell from 15 to 14 of 29 seats. The ANC grew from 10 to 11 seats.
Daily Maverick. Published 3 April 2025.
Where to look: Ward 12 (Highlands) uPhongolo section, final paragraph ('The IFP has now lost its outright majority...')
As of 9 Nov 2021: Bhekinkosi Jacob Thwala was elected as an IFP ward councillor in uPhongolo in 2021. The ward is 52602004.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: KwaZulu-Natal, KZN262 - uPhongolo, IFP, ward 52602004, THWALA BHEKINKOSI JACOB
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 29 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 2 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). Inkatha Freedom Party: 14 (12 ward, 2 party). African National Congress: 11 (3 ward, 8 party). National Freedom Party: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Democratic Alliance: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 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 29 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 uPhongolo an unqualified audit opinion with findings 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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