Zuma fires Mbizana 4

Mayor Zoleka Busuku, speaker Phikolomzi Siramza, chief whip Justice Madikizela and municipal manager Simphiwe Thobela were ordered in meetings with Zuma’s team to resign no later than today.

Zuma, ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, treasurer Zweli Mkhize and chairwoman Baleka Mbete met the four at the Wild Coast Sun in Mzamba near Bizana on Friday.

The meeting was also attended by the ANC’s provincial leadership, including chairman Phumulo Masualle.

Zuma led a similar delegation to the province in February to fire Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s (NMB) executive mayor Zanoxolo Wayile and his deputy, Nancy Sihlwayi.

Officials said they had stalled service delivery in the city and needed to make way for a different team.

Sources with knowledge of Friday’s meeting said Zuma reminded those in attendance that he was also once recalled from his position as deputy president of the country.

Then president Thabo Mbeki sacked Zuma in June 2005, two weeks after he had been implicated in corruption in the Durban trial of his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik.

Mantashe pronounced the four must resign by Monday, the sources said.

Provincial secretary general Oscar Mabuyane, provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane and the council members affected all confirmed the meeting and its outcome.

Only Thobela could not be reached yesterday for comment.

The Dispatch understands Busuku was dismissed after she defied ANC orders to reinstate Thobela, who was expelled by council on January 18 this year.

The issue of Thobela’s dismissal divided the council, especially the ANC’s council delegation.

The top brass however concluded the four senior municipal leaders had brought the organisation into disrepute and said all should go.

Busuku confirmed the four had been ordered to resign today.

“ The council leadership, myself, the speaker, chief whip and municipal manager were, in no uncertain terms, ordered to resign,” she said.

“I personally don’t have a problem with the order and will comply.”

Busuku defended her role, however. She said when she was told to write a letter reinstating Thobela he had already returned to work and she did not think it necessary to write to him confirming his return.

Busuku said she still had confidence in the party and hoped good leaders would be chosen to fill in their shoes.

Siramza and Madikizela also said they would comply with the orders from the top leadership.

ANC national spokesman Keith Khoza declined to comment when approached yesterday saying instead “if there is a decision that needs to be communicated, we will do so”.

But his provincial counterpart, Qoboshiyane, who is also the MEC for local government, said the four had plunged the municipality into a state of chaos that warranted the local authority to be re-engineered.

The party’s top brass also visited Lukhanji Municipality in Chris Hani District Municipality which has been beset with its own challenges including the removal of the mayor Mncedisi Nontsele earlier this year.

Mabuyane said the top leadership had met with all concerned groups in the local municipality and would come back soon to give a way forward. — / /