Celani Sikhakhane
The ANC has been accused of overlooking the criminal history of a councillor currently standing trial for fraud, and appointing him to head a council committee that will fight corruption.
In 2012, Thandazani Mdladla was accused of helping himself to funds which were meant for poverty alleviation programmes.
His appointment to the ANC council committee this month has drawn outrage amongst the leaders of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality in southern KwaZulu-Natal. They say that members of the ruling party knew about his history and overlooked it during the interview process.
It is alleged that while he was still a businessman, Mdladla was implicated in fraud when he stole money along with the then mayor of Ingwe Local Municipality, Nomagugu Luzulane.
An investigation by the Hawks revealed that an amount of R60,000 that was set aside for a poverty alleviation fund was spent at the funeral of the former mayor’s alleged lover.
An additional R50,000 in cash was allegedly paid to the mayor, who was then recalled by the ANC.
Both Mdladla and Luzulane are currently standing trial for fraud.
Sources have told Scrolla.Africa that ANC regional leaders decided to hide the matter during the integrity committee interview in the weeks prior to last month’s local elections.
“Our concern is that this person is still going to court for a fraud case but they decided to appoint him to represent the party at our municipality,” said one source.
They said that Minister Nkosazane Dlamini-Zuma was present at the swearing in of Mdladla and other councillors in November. She is said to have given a speech which emphasised the importance of being “clean from corruption”.
“She even warned all councillors that they must be clean from corruption because she will be very disappointed if a municipality that is named after her is facing issues of incompetent and corrupt leader,” the source said.
Mdladla told Scrolla.Africa that he was not in a good space to talk about the issue.
“Call me some other time,” he said.
Sindi Msomi, the Harry Gwala ANC Regional Secretary, who is accused of hiding the matter from the Integrity Commission, said Mdladla remains innocent until the court proves otherwise.
