Charged ethekwini councillors face axe
MORE than 12 ANC ward councillors from the ethekwini Municipality could be without jobs from next month should the ANC’S national executive committee move to implement its step-aside resolution which was made last month.
The party’s decision-making body called for all its members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes to step aside within 30 days.
They were expected to step aside from their positions by month-end which will mark 30 days since the resolution was taken, failing which they could be suspended in accordance with the ANC constitution, the party said.
However, the resolution which has been met with mixed reactions and protests within the party’s factions, was expected to affect several senior members who were facing various charges.
Ace Magashule, the ANC secretarygeneral who is under pressure to step aside as he is facing corruption charges, instructed all provinces to submit a list of all members charged for various cases by last Thursday.
ethekwini had the most charged members in the province with over 12 ward councillors being on the list, which was sent to the ANC’S headquarters, Luthuli House, KZN ANC spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela confirmed.
He affirmed that should the councillors step aside, it would not affect service delivery in the affected wards.
Among charged councillors from ethekwini were those facing a string of fraud, corruption and money laundering charges along with the former mayor and member of provincial legislature (MPL) Zandile Gumede.
Their case, which has been moved to the high court for a pre-trial hearing, relates to the R280 million waste collection tender which was awarded in 2017 while Gumede was the mayor.
Gumede who was campaigning to reclaim her position as regional chairperson of ethekwini in the upcoming conference had previously stated that she would not consider stepping aside from her position as the MPL, alleging her case was politically motivated.
Mluleki Mntungwa, ethekwini mayoral spokesperson, declined to comment on the matter saying it was not a council’s resolution and referred all questions to the ANC.
Meanwhile, Magashule embarked on the consultation tour with ANC former leaders seeking guidance on whether he should step aside or not.
He is facing corruption charges for allegedly playing a role in the R255million asbestos project, which happened while he was the premier of the Free State.
He had already met with former President Kgalema Motlanthe, this week he visited former President Jacob Zuma at his Nkandla homestead and was expected to visit former president Thabo Mbeki in the coming days.