Lungani Zungu
They supported Zandile Gumede’s rise to the powerful Durban mayoral position in 2016, but now her former-supporters have dumped her ahead of the highly-anticipated eThekwini ANC regional conference this month.
Gumede’s ally-turned-enemy Thanduxolo Sabela has publicly ditched Gumede and endorsed her rival Thabani Nyawose, a strong backer of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Sabela is a member of the executive council in eThekwini municipality and holds the powerful position of secretary of the ANC region in KZN. The legion, with 110 branches, is the biggest in KZN.
Ramaphosa aided her in defeating former eThekwini regional chairperson and mayor James Nxumalo in 2015.
Sabela told Scrolla.Africa Nyawose is a candidate who would propel the ANC in eThekwini to new heights.
If Nyawose is elected as chairperson it would be a big boost for Ramaphosa in the ANC’s 55th elective conference next year.
Gumede, who has substantial backing in the ANC, said she would not comment about a statement made by an ANC member.
“There’s nothing I can say about his political views. He’s entitled to his own view,” said Gumede.
Nyawose could not be reached, with his phone going through to voicemail.
Gumede is mired in charges stemming from the R430 million Durban Solid Waste tender issued during her tenure as mayor of eThekwini. But she has refused to step down.
She has also publicly supported the ANC suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule, who is also facing charges from a R255 million tender issued during his time as Free State premier.
Gumede and Magashule were among the prominent ANC politicians who supported former president Jacob Zuma when he appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on corruption charges.
ANC secretary in KZN Mdumiseni Ntuli announced that all KZN provincial conferences will be held before the end of June. This is so the ruling party can finalise its candidates list ahead of the local government elections on 27 October.
Image source: @ZandileGumedeRT
