Lungani Zungu
The ANC step aside rule is facing a fresh challenge from former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede who says she’s not going down without a fight.
The member of the KZN provincial legislature has accused KZN ANC secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli of lying when he said she agreed to step aside.
“I’m not going anywhere. I am not stepping down. He clearly did not tell the truth,” the ex-eThekwini mayor told Scrolla.Africa.
During a media conference on Tuesday, the confident-looking Ntuli said that Gumede had agreed to step aside without any defiance.
“As expected, she agreed she would step aside,” said Ntuli.
But when Scrolla.Africa called her while Ntuli was still speaking at the media briefing Gumede told a different story.
“I am still a member of the provincial legislature. I will not step down.”
She dared the ruling party to remove her as a member.
Gumede is currently embroiled in a legal battle emanating from the awarding of a R400 million Durban Solid Waste tender during her time as eThekwini mayor.
The ANC recalled Gumede as mayor in 2019 saying the charges had dented her reputation but then the party re-appointed her to the provincial legislature despite the charges hanging over her head.
Gumede was expected to run for the position of eThekwini regional chairperson, a position she held before the regional structure was disbanded in 2019.
Ntuli said the party would not bar party leaders who were facing charges from running for positions.
Gumede said she would contest if the branches nominate her for the chairperson position.
If she wins, this could pave her a way back to the eThekwini mayoral positions, the seat of power that oversees the city’s R52 billion budget.
Image source: @ZandileGumedeRT
