Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede’s deployment to the KwaZulu-Natal legislature as an MPL will be discussed at the African National Congress National Executive Committee (ANC NEC) meeting this weekend.
Speaking during an interview with SABC News on Tuesday, ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte said ANC KZN was invited to explain the deployment at the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting on Monday. However, the NWC did not “understand” their explanation “quite well,” she added.
‘We haven’t understood it quite well’
Duarte said, “They [ANC KZN] needed to move Gumede out of the City [eThekwini] into the province and allow for the space to be taken up for them to do their service delivery. Now, we haven’t understood it quite well. What we are asking is that they come and explain themselves to the NEC. So, that will happen.”
Gumede’s swearing in as an MPL sparked controversy because she still faces alleged corruption and fraud charges relating to a Durban waste disposal tender worth more than R400 million.
She was first arrested and arraigned in court in May last year. The case has however been postponed several times and she is out of R50,000 bail. Shortly after the charges, ANC KZN asked her to resign as eThekwini Mayor citing “poor performance,” but she remained a proportional representation councillor until her recent deployment as an MPL.
The controversy comes as the ANC grapples with the fallout of alleged corruption surrounding the procurement of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). Over the weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote a letter to ANC members urging those charged with corruption to “step aside” from their roles in government until they clear their names.
“We cannot hope to win back people’s trust if we continue to allow cadres who are charged with criminal conduct for corruption to occupy positions of responsibility within government and our movement.
“Those charged are required to insulate the African National Congress from reputational damage arising from their personal challenges by stepping aside while their cases are being heard,” Ramaphosa wrote.
Better if Gumede had ‘excused’ herself
Duarte said it would have been “better” if Gumede had “excused” herself when she was first charged. “It would have been better if Zandile, right at the beginning, had used the resolution at the 54th conference [and] excused herself until such a time as her case was over.”
The resolution stated that ANC members accused of corruption “must account to the Integrity Commission immediately or face disciplinary processes.” In addition, they should be summarily suspended if they “fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures.”
Duarte emphasised that the NEC will discuss its response to corruption “very deeply.” She echoed Ramaphosa’s comments in his letter that “a line has been drawn in the sand” with regard to corruption matters.
“The most important thing on the table at this point in time is, how do we as the ANC assure the public in South Africa that our intention to correct ourselves is a genuine intention?” she said.