Sabelo Malunga, the ANC ward 14 councillor in Port Shepstone, has resigned after being accused of being an Umkhonto Wesizwe party member because he is related to former president Jacob Zuma.
Malunga told Scrolla.Africa on Tuesday that he faced threats and victimisation, and even told ANC comrades that they must blame God for making him a relative of Zuma.
“My biggest sin was a family ritual performed by Zuma in March at home, since we are related through his mother’s side, MaMzobe,” said Malunga. “Then, my picture with him was circulated by ANC comrades who lied that we were together because I am a member of the MK party.
“I was then subjected to threats that I would be fired after the elections. Every day was painful for me in the council meeting due to my comrades who turned against me, spreading lies that I might take the municipality to the MK party. This is painful because I never chose to be Zuma’s relative; it was God.”
Malunga said that although he has resigned from the council, he is still an ANC member.
Another councillor, Sibusiso Shange, the deputy mayor of the same municipality, is facing an investigation by the ANC after being accused of sabotaging the party by allegedly taking election party agents to MK officials instead of the ANC.
On Tuesday, his picture circulated on social media platforms, and comrades called for him to be expelled from the party.
A source said that Shange had been victimised by the ANC since 2021 when he was appointed deputy mayor.
Another source said he was supposed to be the Ugu district mayor, but the regional leadership sidelined him, accusing him of being an IFP member, and appointed Zero Mqadi instead.
Shange refused to comment and said he was in a meeting. He told Scrolla.Africa to talk to the Tolomane Mnyayiza regional leadership.
ANC regional secretary Xolani Luthuli confirmed that the party had received Malunga’s resignation letter and is also investigating the allegations against Shange.
“Malunga has been facing problems for over eight months now. His community accused him of failing to deliver services. Therefore, he is trying to make himself more important on the issue of his relationship with Zuma. It has nothing to do with his resignation,” said Luthuli.
Pictured above: Sibusiso Shange, the embattled ANC deputy mayor of the Ray Nkonyeni municipality, is accused of working with the Umkhonto Wesizwe party.
Image source: Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
