ANCYL wants councillor to explain rebel vote

ANC Youth League leaders in a W B Rubusana regional branch want their ward councillor to account for supporting rival parties in a BCM council vote without a mandate from her constituency.

Pumla Yenana of ward 17 in Mdantsane is one of 21 ANC councillors found to have voted against an ANC caucus decision three weeks ago to support Ncumisa Sidukwana as acting municipal manager.

Yenana, along with senior councillors including deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana, supported Nonceba MbaliMajeng nominated by the opposition – a move that gave Mbali-Majeng more votes.

Following a Dispatch report on the ANC rebels, the ANCYL’s Raymond Mhlaba branch executive committee decided on Sunday that Yenana should convene a meeting and explain her vote.

Branch deputy chairman Sibongile Mahlubi confirmed the resolution yesterday, saying: “If Yenana does not convene such a meeting within the next few weeks, we will embark on protest marches to put pressure on the ANC to remove these leaders who do as they please when deployed in councils.”

The Dispatch reported a few weeks ago that the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) resolved to haul all 21 to a disciplinary hearing.

Their loyalty was tested last Tuesday when the ANC caucus decided to replace Mbali-Majeng with Bob Naidoo only weeks into office.

Mahlubi said there would be a meeting on Thursday, where another letter will be written to bring the matter to the attention of the party’s regional executive committee.

Residents from NU3, 4, 6, 9, Eluxolweni and Cuba have been taking part in protests over Yenana’s failure to deliver services such as roads, housing and jobs, according to Mahlubi.

A week ago residents of Cuba and Eluxolweni blocked Qumza Highway over lack of electricity in their area.

“The leadership knows that we were against Yenana’s candidacy for the local elections, but some [people] protected her. We now see councillors voting with opposition parties. That cannot be right,” said Mahlubi.

When phoned for comment yesterday Yenana said: “I am in no position to comment on this because I’m hearing it for the first time.” —