Celani Sikhakhane
The ANC has dismissed calls for two of their KwaZulu-Natal mayors facing criminal charges to step down, arguing that their alleged crimes have nothing to do with their jobs.
Opposition parties are now piling the pressure on the ANC to take action against them.
The acting mayor of Newcastle Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, and Vincent Madlala, who is the mayor of Alfred Duma local municipality in Ladysmith, are both out on bail for separate criminal cases.
Mahlaba was charged with assaulting an IT contractor in September 2020. The alleged assault took place when the contractor responded verbally to the mayor’s question as to why he was continuing to install a fibre network when the firm had been asked to stop, according to reports.
The mayor’s bodyguards, who also allegedly joined in the assault, were charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as malicious damage to property and theft. The case has been adjourned to 26 August.
Madlala was arrested last week along with seven of his family members for obstructing the course of justice during a raid at his Zakheni Township home.
KZN ANC spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela has said that there is no conflict of interest between their criminal cases and their roles as mayors.
“Their cases have nothing to do with their work. So there is nothing which may force the ANC to suspend them from their deployment duties,” said Ntombela.
The National Freedom Party Secretary General, Canaan Mdletshe, challenged the ANC to suspend Madlala and Mahlaba to avoid a revolt of the public.
He described Mahlaba and Madlala as “problematic” mayors.
“We cannot have serving mayors, who from time to time, would have to take leave to attend to courts to deal with serious criminal charges and accusations. It is in the best interest of the communities they are serving to have them removed with immediate effect, ” said Mdletshe.
Both Mahlaba and Madlala were not available for comment as their phones were off.
The ANC, the party to which both mayors belong, has questioned the NFP’s stance on the matter, describing it as frivolous and opportunistic.
