Top brass scramble to protect party from embarrassment
THE Nelson Mandela memorial service taxi scandal has deeply divided the ANC both in the province and Buffalo City Metro region.
The Daily Dispatch understands that the ANC regional executive committee met at the weekend and unanimously decided to remove their implicated deployees from office.
However, despite repeated efforts, the Dispatch has been unable to obtain on-the-record confirmation from provincial or regional ANC officials of decisions taken within party structures.
The latest development comes days after the SACP provincial leadership called for the members to step down as investigations continued.
Last week metro executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy Temba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba and ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo were arrested on charges related to the use of money earmarked for Mandela memorial events.
This left the ANC’s national structures “embarrassed” and through national spokesman Zizi Kodwa the party called on the officials to step aside while investigations were conducted by the Hawks.
The provincial structure, through a statement attributed to provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane, also urged ANC members with information on the matter to cooperate fully with the justice system.
The Dispatch understands that a provincial meeting last week informed the BCM officials to resign.
The four ANC deployees never left office and attempts to obtain comments from them drew a blank yesterday.
Sources within the ANC in the region claim that the four metro councillors claim that nothing was communicated to them by the provincial ANC and they “saw no reason to step down”.
“They didn’t step down as we are divided within the party about this matter.
“The regional executive is calling for them to step down as the investigations continue.
“Here we need to protect the ANC name from embarrassment,” said the source who is privy to the REC resolutions.
Asked about the weekend meeting, BCM ANC regional chairwoman Zukisa Faku would not divulge what was discussed.
“We can confirm that the meeting took place over the weekend and among other things we talked about the fraud case against ANC members but unfortunately I can’t talk about this in the media,” said Faku.
Mkolo yesterday said he was not aware of the ultimatum given to the ANC provincial authority by the region.
“Your people have given you wrong information about this.
“This is not true but I will check this,” said Mkolo.
The arrest of the ANC leaders came amid an investigation by the Hawks into the R5.9-million paid by the metro to ferry mourners to Mandela’s memorial services.
The money was allegedly paid to Victory Ticket 522 cc, a company owned by Mzwandile Sokwali and his wife, Busisiwe Boti.
The couple was arrested in March in connection with fraud, corruption and money laundering charges. The two were back in court last week and were joined by Ncitha, Tinta, Simon-Ndzele, Gomba, Mkolo and metro senior official Ondela Mahlangu.
Other accused include local businesswoman Viwe Vazi and Dean Fanoe, the owner of a company that puts up Christmas lights on the East London beachfront.
The last accused is Johannesburg attorney Zintle Nkuhlu, who is said to be Mkolo’s girlfriend.
Welcoming the arrests, the SACP, through spokesman Siyabonga Mdodi said: “We view these developments as consistent with the call made by the SACP for law enforcement authorities to go to the bottom of the scandal and bring all those who might have done wrong to book.”
Sandile Toni, secretary of ANC East London zone, which comprises 13 branches said their weekend meeting supported the officials.
VIDEO: Madiba memorial taxi scandal splits ANC
THE Nelson Mandela memorial service taxi scandal has deeply divided the ANC both in the province and Buffalo City Metro region.
The Daily Dispatch understands that the ANC regional executive committee met at the weekend and unanimously decided to remove their implicated deployees from office.
However, despite repeated efforts, the Dispatch has been unable to obtain on-the-record confirmation from provincial or regional ANC officials of decisions taken within party structures.
The latest development comes days after the SACP provincial leadership called for the members to step down as investigations continued.
Last week metro executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy Temba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba and ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo were arrested on charges related to the use of money earmarked for Mandela memorial events.
This left the ANC’s national structures “embarrassed” and through national spokesman Zizi Kodwa the party called on the officials to step aside while investigations were conducted by the Hawks.
The provincial structure, through a statement attributed to provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane, also urged ANC members with information on the matter to cooperate fully with the justice system.
The Dispatch understands that a provincial meeting last week informed the BCM officials to resign.
The four ANC deployees never left office and attempts to obtain comments from them drew a blank yesterday.
Sources within the ANC in the region claim that the four metro councillors claim that nothing was communicated to them by the provincial ANC and they “saw no reason to step down”.
“They didn’t step down as we are divided within the party about this matter.
“The regional executive is calling for them to step down as the investigations continue.
“Here we need to protect the ANC name from embarrassment,” said the source who is privy to the REC resolutions.
Asked about the weekend meeting, BCM ANC regional chairwoman Zukisa Faku would not divulge what was discussed.
“We can confirm that the meeting took place over the weekend and among other things we talked about the fraud case against ANC members but unfortunately I can’t talk about this in the media,” said Faku.
Mkolo yesterday said he was not aware of the ultimatum given to the ANC provincial authority by the region.
“Your people have given you wrong information about this.
“This is not true but I will check this,” said Mkolo.
The arrest of the ANC leaders came amid an investigation by the Hawks into the R5.9-million paid by the metro to ferry mourners to Mandela’s memorial services.
The money was allegedly paid to Victory Ticket 522 cc, a company owned by Mzwandile Sokwali and his wife, Busisiwe Boti.
The couple was arrested in March in connection with fraud, corruption and money laundering charges. The two were back in court last week and were joined by Ncitha, Tinta, Simon-Ndzele, Gomba, Mkolo and metro senior official Ondela Mahlangu.
Other accused include local businesswoman Viwe Vazi and Dean Fanoe, the owner of a company that puts up Christmas lights on the East London beachfront.
The last accused is Johannesburg attorney Zintle Nkuhlu, who is said to be Mkolo’s girlfriend.
Welcoming the arrests, the SACP, through spokesman Siyabonga Mdodi said: “We view these developments as consistent with the call made by the SACP for law enforcement authorities to go to the bottom of the scandal and bring all those who might have done wrong to book.”
Sandile Toni, secretary of ANC East London zone, which comprises 13 branches said their weekend meeting supported the officials.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos