The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has fired the controversial Speaker of Uphongolo Local Municipality located along the South Africa-Eswatini border line in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Kwenza Nxumalo was fired on Tuesday after the municipality’s caucus was called to an impromptu meeting in Durban and hauled over the coals.

It is believed that the IFP felt that Nxumalo did not do enough to prevent the municipality from descending into chaos in the matter of the Municipal Manager, Bethuel Khali, who was unlawfully suspended from work and had to be brought back through a last-minute compromise.

After firing Nxumalo, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party directed IFP councillors to elect Petros Mavuso as the new Speaker.

Mavuso’s position as the chairperson of the caucus would be taken by Zuzile Buthelezi, a long-time IFP activist in the Zululand district.

“The resolution above shall take effect immediately,” the party said in the letter dated 7 April 2026 announcing the changes.

Nxumalo, who is also the Principal at Mlimisi Primary School in Pongola, shot to notoriety in April last year after he was arrested for allegedly being in possession of an illegal gun with a serial number that was found to be filed off.

The charges were later withdrawn by the Uphongolo local municipality, and he was allowed to walk away scot-free.