The ANC provincial executive committee suspended troubled Buffalo City Metro ward councillor Ntombizodwa Gamnca on Monday following corruption and fraud allegations.
Addressing hundreds of residents in Mdantsane’s NU7, PEC member Loyiso Magqashela said Gamnca had been suspended after 15 residents reported corruption charges against her at the party’s regional office last week.
Residents accused Gamnca of defrauding them of thousands of rands when she allegedly sold them houses illegally and failed to deliver the title deeds or the houses.
Since the Daily Dispatch first exposed the questionable house sales in February, more residents have come forward claiming to have been defrauded by the ward 20 councillor.
The Dispatch reported earlier in March that the police were investigating a case of fraud against her after a number of residents filed complaints.
Magqashela said: “It’s true there were 15 people who reported complaints at the regional office. By the time I got there, there were still about four people waiting to complain to the leadership. We said to them this matter is a serious matter but because this involves ANC members, the party wants to hear especially from the accused.
“When we looked at the depth of the complaints, we looked at ANC processes that says if there are allegations against you, you must excuse yourself. This is not the first time that has happened. The ANC in Calata House [King William’s Town] says from now the councillor will be suspended as a ward councillor,” Magqashela said to applause.
He said Gamnca would face a disciplinary process within the party until a logical conclusion was reached. She will not be allowed to take part in any ANC activities.
“During that time, she won’t hold ward meetings, won’t call you as the secretary of the branch until we prove beyond reasonable doubt that the allegations against her are false – whether through the ANC or courts,” added Magqashela.
When the Dispatch called Gamnca for comment, she said she had received no letter informing her of an intention to suspend her nor any communication informing her of her suspension.
She refused to answer more questions, saying she was in a meeting.
According to Magqashela, she will be replaced by the party’s recently axed infrastructure portfolio head councillor Ncedo Kumbaca.
He said: “The ANC is sending the PR councillor Ncedo Kumbaca. He is not a ward councillor for ward 20, but will be here to hold the fort. We told chief whip [Mawethu Marata] to appoint Kumbaca to act as a ward councillor.
“We also appointed comrade Sakhumzi Caga to lead elections programme in the ward.”
Although Gamnca’s suspension was welcomed, some wanted to know when the disciplinary process would be concluded.
NU6 resident Kholiswa Papa said: “How long are you suspending her for? You don’t say for how long. Her term comes to an end in 2021 and for all we know, you could investigate until them. I don’t know what more evidence you need because you are saying that there were 15 people with evidence and even now the hall is full with people saying the same thing. What more evidence do you need, please answer us!”
Another resident, Nopinky Chiliwe, asked why the ANC had not taken action against Gamnca who was found guilty of the theft of a cellphone a week ago by the East London magistrate’s court.
She was fined R10,000 and found guilty of theft and intimidation after fellow ANC councillor Mkhuseli “Gidla” Nombewu accused her of stealing his cellphone in 2018.
Chiliwe said to applause: “We know that to work at the municipality as a councillor one should not have a criminal record. She now has a criminal record as she has been convicted. Why has she not been dealt with?”
Magqashela promised the residents the disciplinary process would not drag on until 2021 and said the other issues raised by the residents would also be dealt with.
mamelan@dispatch.co.za..