Police out in full force as Nquthu set to finally get a mayor

83 Mdlalose Street is normally quiet‚ but on Tuesday morning the home of the Nquthu municipality was a hive of activity.

Heavily armed police stood on guard as the council - 10 months after the local government election in August last year - met to elect its mayor.

The IFP-controlled council will also elect the deputy mayor‚ executive committee members and five councillors who will represent Nquthu on the 27-seat Umzinyathi District Municipality council.

Police outnumbered the handful of peaceful IFP and ANC supporters idling outside the gates ahead of the first sitting of the northern KwaZulu-Natal council.

The reason for their presence is clear: not only has the council been in turmoil since the August vote as political factions clashed‚ but the man set to be named mayor‚ the IFP's Siyabonga Mabilabila‚ is currently facing charges of conspiring to kill his ANC rival.

"We hope there won't be any trouble this time around. All the key units have been deployed to ensure a smooth process‚" said one of the officers‚ who would not be named.

The IFP won 19 seats to the ANC's 11 after last month's by-election. The NFP‚ DA and EFF each have a single councillor in the 33-seat council.