Supporters of former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede believe she will be president of South Africa one day.
The supporters expressed their wish at a rally following her appearance at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
Addressing the crowd in isiZulu and English, eThekwini councillor and ardent Gumede backer Simphiwe Mncube said Gumede “will lead us one day.”
‘Mam’ president’
Some supporters in the crowd shouted, “Mam’ president.” Mncube then asked them if they all agreed with that before declaring that she will be president one day.
However, Gumede’s most immediate ambition is retaining her powerful position as chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in eThekwini region, the largest in the ANC.
Dates for the regional conference have not yet been confirmed, but Gumede and her supporters kicked off their campaigns in September last year.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal asked Gumede to resign along with many of her allies in the eThekwini metropolitan council last year citing their poor performance.
Corruption trial postponed
Her removal as Mayor followed the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision to lay corruption charges against her and others over a R208 million waste disposal tender.
The NPA revealed in court on Wednesday that it had found new evidence that raises the amount involved to R389 million.
However, it requested for more time to conduct further investigations. The court agreed to postpone the matter to 16 April, 2020. Gumede is out on R50,000 bail.
The ex-Mayor has always maintained that she is innocent and that the charges are politically motivated.
Addressing the rally on Wednesday, she said, “We will wait the three months and we will wait for even the next three months because we know they will find nothing.”
Among those who attended the rally to support her was ANC Women’s League President Bathabile Dlamini.