The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has dismissed the upcoming motion of no confidence against eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda as an early April Fool’s joke, further accusing axed former deputy mayor and leader of the Abantu Batho Congress party Philani Mavundla of pushing for the dismissal of the current mayor.

Kaunda will be facing the motion of no confidence on Tuesday.

ANC provincial spokesperson Mafika Mndebele has said that Mavundla and other opposition parties were welcome to schedule motions of no confidence against ANC officials as he is confident they will not succeed.

“The motion of no confidence against Comrade Kaunda is a joke and we are saying that they can bring those motions every hour, week and every month; we are ready for them. In fact, we advise them to schedule them because we know that we will win. Kaunda, as a mayor, has revived eThekwini and we have full confidence in him,” said Mndebele.

Mavundla was dismissed following complaints around his leadership.

Friday’s remarks by the KZN ANC come after a failed council meeting that was meant to take place on Thursday at the Durban International Convention Centre to elect a new deputy mayor. However, ANC, Economic Freedom Fighters and other smaller parties' members did not show up.

“Mavundla is the one who is mobilising the spirit of the motion against Comrade Kaunda because he is vindictive and wishfully thinking he could become mayor,” Mndebele said.

Mavundla hit back against the ANC and said that he had hoped that eThekwini residents would “finally see the arrogance of this corrupt ANC” who he alleges spent R500 000 for the special meeting only to not show up.

"The ANC disrespected the council by deserting a meeting just because they don’t have a quorum in their caucus. Can you imagine the cost of venue logistics to the tune of an estimated half a million rand to put together that meeting. There are households that sleep without food in the townships but the mighty ruling party is able to throw down the drain food that could feed easily 400 people. The arrogance in their Speaker who is clearly a scapegoat for all this corruption. South Africans are not fools. The net is closing rapidly,” he said.