Lungani Zungu
Former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede says she believes her charges are politically motivated.
Gumede appeared at the Durban High Court on Monday over her criminal charges stemming from the R430 million Durban Waste tender.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa, she said the charges are aimed at destroying her political career but she will carry on fighting to clear her name.
“Despite the charges and persecution I face, I’ll never leave the ANC. The ANC is my home,” she said.
Her case, alongside 19 others, was postponed until 30 November.
Gumede and her co-accused – which includes the suspended eThekwini city manager Sipho Nzuza, the former supply chain manager Sandile Ngcobo, the former eThekwini municipality senior employee Robert Abbu and senior ANC councillor in the eThekwini municipality, Mondli Mthembu – face charges of corruption, money laundering and fraud.
Gumede is vying for the position of eThekwini chairperson, a post she held before the regional leadership was disbanded.
ANC provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli had earlier said that all provincial conferences will be held before the end of June.
Gumede’s lawyer, Jay Naidoo, said the state has added racketeering charges on top of corruption and fraud charges.
A confident-sounding Gumede said if the branches of the ANC nominated her, she would stand for election.
Outside the Durban High Court, she told scores of her supporters she’ll fight because the ANC doesn’t belong to certain individuals.
“It belongs to all ANC members,” she said.
Gumede, also an MPL, has refused to step down from her position in line with the party’s step aside policy for members facing corruption charges.
She is a close ally of former president Jacob Zuma and suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule.
“Look at the people who are facing charges. It’s clear certain people are targeted.”
Gumede is part of the ANC faction called the Radical Economic Transformation faction that is aligned to Zuma.
Gumede supporter Muzi Khesw, who was at court, said he will stand with Gumede.
“Her own party has treated her badly. We stand by her until she clears all the charges,” he said.
