Joburg mayor invokes ANC step-aside rule after Al Jama-ah member Gwamanda’s arrest

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 15: MMC of Community Development Kabelo Gwamanda during the handing over of 60,000 letters in support of Leila Khaled Drive at Johannesburg Arts, Culture and Heritage Offices on October 15, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This historic submission is to advocate for the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive as a symbol of resistance and to also amplify the cries of those yearning for an end to genocide and Israel’s apartheid. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)

By Victoria O’Regan

21 Oct 2024

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says fraud charges against Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda are enough for the ANC’s step-aside rule to kick in. But he hasn’t asked Gwamanda to step aside as an MMC just yet.

Executive mayor of Johannesburg Dada Morero will meet his predecessor, Kabelo Gwamanda, on Tuesday, 22 October, following his arrest in connection with a fraudulent funeral insurance scheme.

gwamanda step-aside morero Former Johannesburg mayor and present MMC for community development Kabelo Gwamanda. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)

As mayor, Morero has the power to remove Gwamanda from office, but it seems he will go the route of requesting him to voluntarily step aside in line with ANC policy. Gwamanda is currently the city’s member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for community development.

In a statement on Monday, Morero said he was “deeply concerned” by the matter of Gwamanda’s arrest.

“The developments deserve to be handled with a sense of urgency on behalf of the residents of the city in order to ensure that it does not impact on the service delivery,” said Morero.

Read more: Goodbye Mayor Kabelo, hello new face of Eau de Incompetence

The former mayor of Johannesburg was arrested for fraud on Friday, 18 October, for allegedly swindling Soweto residents in a funeral policy scam that he ran in 2011 and 2012. Gwamanda – an Al Jama-ah councillor – was arrested after a victim of his alleged Ponzi scheme opened a case at Protea Glen police station in Soweto, the Sunday Times reported.

An investigation by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority last year found that Gwamanda disappeared in 2012 when his clients came searching for their money. Gwamanda has previously defended himself against allegations of dubious dealings in connection with his company, iThemba Lama Afrika funeral scheme.

On Monday, Morero confirmed he would meet Gwamanda on Tuesday, “to receive his counsel and official report”.

“Consequently, as a deployee of the ANC in political office, we are guided by the ANC’s position on similar matters and cannot and do not expect any less from our partners in government. We can confirm that the situation meets the minimum requirements for the step-aside rule to kick in,” said Morero.

Read more: ANC veterans push for ministers and Members of Parliament implicated in VBS or State Capture to step aside

While Gwamanda is not an ANC member, Al Jama-ah is part of the 10-party Government of National Unity (GNU). Gwamanda was recently tipped to be the party’s representative on the GNU’s clearing-house dispute resolution committee, headed by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

The step-aside rule, an internal policy of the ANC, compels members charged with corruption or other serious crimes to voluntarily step aside from executive roles or face suspension. Leaders affected include former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE pic.twitter.com/5UywUvuj0D

— Executive Mayor of the City Of Joburg (@DadaMorero) October 21, 2024

In a post on X, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba called on Morero to remove Gwamanda from his position.

He said Morero had the power to “immediately remove” a member of his executive involved in criminal activity. “Gwamanda is [a] criminal charged by law enforcement agencies. ANC policies should not be a factor in this case,” said Mashaba.

ActionSA backed the ANC’s decision to replace Gwamanda with Morero in August 2024.

The DA previously welcomed Gwamanda’s arrest, saying that it would write to Morero requesting an investigation into all agreements entered into under Gwamanda’s tenure as mayor and in his position as MMC.

Criminal charges

Gwamanda was the executive mayor of South Africa’s largest metropole between May 2023 and August 2024. He called it quits following intense pressure from opposition parties and civil organisations.

Read more: Panyaza Lesufi says ANC will ‘crush’ any attempt to remove Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda

The Sunday Times reported that a warrant of arrest was issued for Gwamanda in May 2024, but he was travelling – allegedly in Brazil – at the time and failed to meet the investigating officer on his return, as he had promised.

SAPS Gauteng spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed to Daily Maverick that Gwamanda handed himself over to police on Friday. Nevhuhulwi declined to respond to questions about why it took so long to arrest Gwamanda, saying: “Please note that once the matter is before court we will no longer comment on it.”

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, Gwamanda and his co-accused Mduduzi Zonde appeared at Protea Magistrates’ Court on Friday, on charges of fraud amounting to R12,000 in connection with the criminal case.

Both Gwamanda and Zonde were each ordered to pay R2,000 bail.

The matter will be back in court on 3 December 2024, according to Mjonondwane.

Daily Maverick sent queries to Al Jama-ah’s spokesperson Sinazo Mtshengu, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Daily Maverick also sent queries to Gwamanda, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. DM

Categories:

Tags:

DM is much better if you are signed in...

South Africa

Criminal charges