Charged Gwamanda will stay on as Joburg MMC - speaker

The ANC, which previously claimed to have vetted Kabelo Gwamanda before it elected him as Joburg mayor, on Sunday said at the time there was no case against him, just rumours and gossip.

Gwamanda, who was arrested for fraud, will continue to serve as the MMC of community development, according to Johannesburg council speaker Nobuhle Mthembu.

“Councilors alleged to be in breach of the code of conduct can be referred to the ethics committee for investigation through the speaker’s office. This ensures accountability and transparency within the council. When it comes to the MMC role, the executive mayor has significant authority. They are responsible for appointing and removing,” she said.

Gwamanda was arrested on Friday for fraud after he handed himself over to the police in Soweto and was later released on bail.

It is alleged that he conned unsuspecting Soweto residents through an iThemba Lama Afrika scheme into which they made monthly payments for funeral insurance.

One of his victims opened a case in January, it is alleged that she told the police that she thought the directors of the company that had scammed her were dead until she spotted one of them on TV as a mayor of Joburg.

Last year, a Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) investigation revealed that Gwamanda operated an illegal business in 2012 and then disappeared when his clients came looking for their money, according to the Sunday Times.

The allegations of Gwamanda’s fraud first made headlines when the DA mayoral candidate Mpho Phalatse who was contesting the same position with him threatened to open a case against him shortly after losing the mayoral reigns.

In May last year, when the ANC chose Gwamanda as their mayoral candidate they said they vetted the mayor and that he met the requirements.

They referred to the allegations as “just gossip and rumour-mongering”.

Yesterday, ANC regional secretary Sasabona Manganye said the allegations were gossip last year.

“It was a gossip then as it was raised by faceless people and no case was opened. ⁠Now there’s a case opened and he is charged and he will have his day in court to state his case,”

ANC spokesperson Masilo Serekele said the matter was not in his party’s jurisdiction.

There is no comment from ANC Joburg on the matter. The matter is outside our jurisdiction as he [Gwamanda] is not a member of the ANC nor a councillor of the ANCANC spokesperson Masilo Serekele 

“There is no comment from ANC Joburg on the matter. The matter is outside our jurisdiction as he [Gwamanda] is not a member of the ANC nor a councillor of the ANC,” Serekele said.

Al Jama-ah leader, Ganief Hendricks said the party will not take a decision yet whether to suspend Gwamanda.

“This matter is still under investigation; therefore, the party cannot take or make any decision until all the facts and investigations are concluded,” he said.

He said they respect the rule of law, however, raised a concern about the arrest and the timing of Gwamanda’s arrest.

“We are, however, surprised by the timing of the law enforcement at the time of Cllr Gwamanda’s appointment to the GNU Clearing House Committee and on the eve of the highly contested street renaming from Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive.

“Although we advocate for the application and enforcement of the rule of law we would equally appreciate a fair application of such across the board the merits of the case are yet to be tested before a court of law,” he said.

Hendricks said the crime was believed to have happened before Gwamanda became involved in politics.

“The malice was not only aimed at reputational damage but this became the onus of an attempt to remove him from office a day after his appointment,” he said 

Mthembu, the council speaker, said the arrest of a councillor undermined the trust the community had in those who are expected to uphold the rule of law.

“We’re expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and transparency. Our code of conduct outlines the expected behaviour for councillors, ensuring we serve our communities with integrity.

“We must conduct ourselves in a manner that respects the law, our constituents and our fellow council members,” she said.

She has called upon mayor Dada Morero to act against Gwamanda.

“I implore the executive mayor to make sure that mayoral committee members always uphold the integrity of the municipality. If one of us is found wanting, the executive mayor must make the tough decision to take appropriate action, even if it’s difficult. Leadership demands courage and integrity.

Adding that Gwamanda should be subjected to an ethics committee. “ActionSA has indicated that they will send an official complaint against him and they want the matter to be referred to ethics committee.”

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