ANC rebel councillors in BCM given final written warnings

THE 21 rebel ANC councillors who voted with opposition parties in Buffalo City Metro are off the hook – at least for now.

The provincial disciplinary committee has issued them with a final written warning.

This was met with a sigh of relief by those affected as their rivals had been hoping their membership would be suspended and those in the mayoral executive demoted to “backbenchers” in the council.

They were all grilled in February after they were found to have voted with opposition parties in council, which preferred Nonceba Mbali-Majeng as acting municipal manager instead of the ANC’s choice of Ncumisa Sdukwana.

Some of those implicated included deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana, Mandela memorial funds accused Sindiswa Gomba, Crosby Kolela, Gwebile Gosani, Ayanda Mapisa and head of corporate services Sindile Toni.

The 21 affected councillors had been in limbo following the ANC regional executive committee’s request to the provincial disciplinary committee (PDC) to adjudicate on the matter.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the PDC, headed by Professor Shepherd Mayatula, had “issued a verdict on the matter and made all those affected sign final written warnings.

“From where we are sitting as the provincial executive the matter has been finalised, and it is now up to the regional executive to appeal the decision as complainants in the case, if they feel strongly that the verdict is a slap in their face.

“Only the national disciplinary committee can overrule this verdict,” said Mabuyane.

Other implicated councillors were Pumla Yenana-Nonjiwu, Senduku Maphuka, Zandisile Tokwe, Peter Kiki, Ntukulana Ncotela, Mawethu Marata, Sindiswa Skepe, Ntombekhaya Ntshebe, Nceba Kilmani, Gideon Norexe, Mzukisi Relu, Vuyani Peter, Nokuphumla Gamnca, Bongani Dyonase and Thobile Mtya.