Durban said ‘no more’ and ANC ‘came to its senses’ about Gumede

OPPOSITION parties in KwaZulu-Natal welcomed the removal of embattled eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede.

This after reports emerged that Gumede, along with Msunduzi mayor Themba Njilo and his deputy Thobani Zuma, had been axed following a special meeting held by the ANC KZN’s provincial executive committee (PEC).

The party’s provincial structure would not confirm if any mayors, including Gumede, had been axed but sources confirmed that wholesale changes had been made at two of the biggest municipalities in the province – eThekwini and Msunduzi.

The EFF said while it welcomed the ANC’s decision to axe Gumede, it was waiting for action to be taken against 62 councillors who are also alleged to have engaged in corrupt activities in the city.

EFF KZN chairperson Vusi Khoza said they believed the arrest of the 62 councillors “is imminent”. “Finally, the ANC has come to its senses and they did the right thing,” he said.

Khoza said the mayor of Newcastle Ntuthuko Mahlaba should also be axed. Mahlaba was arrested in connection with the 2017 murder of former ANC Youth League official Wandile Ngobeni.

Councillor Nicole Graham, the DA eThekwini caucus leader, said: “Gumede’s firing is a direct result of pressure from opposition parties, the media and the people who live in this city. They have seen the effects of the chaos that Zandile Gumede has unleashed on eThekwini first-hand, and stood up to say ‘no more’.

“Gumede’s axing, however, is only the first step. The investigative report that led to her arrest explains just how Gumede had interfered with key line departments and appointments to capture the municipality. She has interfered with procurement processes and made sure those close to her have benefited.”

Graham said Gumede had allegedly been aided and abetted by municipal officials, fellow councillors and the ANC leadership in KZN.

“If good governance is to be restored, all of those who have worked with her need to go,” Graham said.

Councillor Mdu Nkosi, the IFP’s eThekwini Municipality executive member, said the ANC took too long to make the decision and they owed ratepayers an explanation.

He said the cracks within the ANC in eThekwini were so deep he wondered if the factions would remain.

Political analyst Imraan Buccus said it was no doubt a difficult decision from the PEC because Gumede held great support in many branches.

“If the ANC is to live up to the expectations of our president in terms of creating a competent state, city and municipalities, I think it was a wise decision to fire mayor Gumede. The ANC is likely going to be faced with the difficult task of dealing with the fallout and a further fractured ANC in KZN,” Buccus said.

In many ways this was a battle for the soul of the ANC because this was the largest region of the ANC in South Africa. “The decision to fire her is an important one and one that has great consequences.

“How the city deals with the backlash from her supporters remains to be seen. People are still left with many unanswered questions over her role as mayor and the corruption saga. Gumede owes people the truth.”

Nkosi said the ANC should hit the ground running to find a suitable replacement for Gumede. He said strong leadership should come from outside the council and the person chosen must not be involved in factionalism.