FORMER eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede is in hot water again after violating the ANC’s decision last week for addressing her supporters outside court.
ANC provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli announced today they would summon Gumede to appear before the PEC to explain her action. After her court appearance, Gumede addressed supporters which Ntuli said was against the party’s decision because those members were not permitted by the party to represent it in court.
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He said secondly, Gumede was wrong to address supporters carrying placards insulting ANC leaders as there was a standing resolution from the Nasrec Conference in 2017 that supporters shouldn’t go to court to support comrades facing criminal charges.
Ntuli said the PEC had to ask permission from the national executive committee to attend but there was no decision for comrades to support Gumede’s appearance in court. Another issue was that when ANC supporters stormed the provincial office last year to support her, she distanced herself and said she didn’t know them but last week she addressed them.
“There was something fundamentally wrong with what happened that day. We will call comrade Gumede to the PEC to explain the meaning of that gathering she addressed. She addressed people that had placards clearly dividing the organisation and didn’t say anything or criticise their action.”
What might add salt to Gumede’s wound is the latest NEC decision that party members facing criminal charges must step aside from both party and government positions and not represent the party in any form. During her address, Gumede spoke as ANC member and several times mentioned the party’s name.
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Ntuli said if there were party members who still had suspended sentences from the charges of last year where they stormed the party’s provincial office, there would be consequences.
Gumede supporter spokesman Mzomuhle Gumede said the ANC’s problem was inconsistency. He said if she was charged, provincial leaders should also be charged for attending former president Jacob Zuma’s court appearance.
