A mayor with two jobs is at risk of losing both for allegedly abdicating his councillor responsibilities

Petros Ngubane is an IFP mayor of the Umzinyathi District Municipality, which includes the town of Dundee, in KwaZulu-Natal. However, 120km away, in Greytown under Umvoti Local Municipality, Ngubane doubles as a councillor that is on the verge of being fired for allegedly abdicating his duties.

Against the backdrop of the recent ousting of the IFP leadership in the Umvoti council, a coalition led by the ANC and Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) has set in motion a process to remove Ngubane from the council, placing the veteran political figure's mayorship in Umzinyathi in jeopardy.

Typically, one councillor can sit in two councils – a local and district municipality – as part of the proportional representation system. But Ngubane is facing the chop in Umvoti for allegedly failing to attend council meetings.