eThekwini Metro Mayor Zandile Gumede has left a trail of destruction in her wake. Gumede\u2019s scorecard as mayor and leader of the only metro in KwaZulu-Natal is dismal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is little doubt that the former mayor has left a legacy of defective services, wastage, poor management and aberrant leadership. The city\u2019s own monthly and quarterly reports, numerous media articles and even a provincial report have pointed to this fact for nearly the entire duration of her tenure,\u201d says Tim Tyrrell, OUTA KZN Provincial Manager.<\/p>\n
OUTA has argued for the removal of Gumede and her co-accused, chairperson for the human settlements infrastructure committee Mondli Mthembu, since their arrest on 14 May 2019 in relation to various charges including fraud and corruption in connection with tender irregularities to the value of R208-million. Mthembu was removed along with all the ANC members of the City\u2019s executive committee, of which he too was a member. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we must acknowledge that the KwaZulu-Natal ANC has taken a step in the right direction, it must be said that this action should have occurred much earlier. It is hoped that the delay is not the result of a settlement agreement being reached where they will be redeployed and continue to be paid from the public purse, an action we will oppose,\u201d says Tyrrell.<\/p>\n
On 15 May 2019 OUTA wrote to the ANC KZN Provincial Secretary, Mdumiseni Ntuli, requesting that the party recall Gumede based on its own resolution passed in March 2019 that said: \u201cAll comrades charged with serious crimes to step aside from their positions of responsibility in government, pending the conclusion of their legal cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
OUTA also wrote repeatedly to the council, which is obliged to hold councillors to account in terms of the Municipal Systems Act.<\/p>\n
However, on more than one occasion Speaker William Mapena advised OUTA in writing that his office was \u201cnot in possession of any information upon which a reasonable suspicion can be formed that there has been a breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors\u201d by Gumede and Mthembu.<\/p>\n
\u201cHad the ANC not taken the decision to remove Gumede and Mthembu, we were to begin discussions with our in-house legal counsel and discuss how we could force the municipality to undertake its legislative duty as set out in the Municipal Systems Act. We further welcome the removal of Speaker Mapena and several members of the executive council by the ANC who have consistently refused to stand up for the residents of this City,\u201d says Tyrrell.<\/p>\n
OUTA notes the dismissals are based not only on the criminal allegations but on the findings of a report jointly compiled in June 2019 by the province\u2019s Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Treasury Department titled \u201cState of Local Governance Report: eThekwini Metro\u201d. OUTA has seen this report.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis report provides damning evidence against the city leadership under Gumede\u2019s watch, noting political infighting, political interference in the administration, fraud and corruption and a lack of financial oversight and poor project management, all leading to failures in service delivery. The report stated that the increased negative media coverage had the potential to create negative economic consequences through credit ratings downgrades. Based on this report alone Gumede and those who surrounded her should never again be allowed to hold public office,\u201d says Tyrrell.<\/p>\n
Julius Kleynhans, OUTA\u2019s Operations Executive, says the action taken by the KZN ANC urgently needs to be replicated throughout the various dysfunctional municipalities it controls across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly 7% of municipalities in South Africa are fully functional. Of the remaining 93%, only 31% are \u2018reasonably functional\u2019, with 31% \u2018almost dysfunctional\u2019 and another 31% \u2018completely dysfunctional\u2019. There is no time to wait. Urgent intervention is needed now otherwise we face the very real possibility of a collapse of the local government system which will be catastrophic for everyone,\u201d says Kleynhans.<\/p>\n
OUTA further notes the complete overhaul of the ANC leadership in Msunduzi Municipality.<\/p>\n