FORMER eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede has been moved to the legislature.
Gumede is expected to be sworn in as new member today in Pietermaritzburg.
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The ceremony will be at the office of the speaker, Nontembeko Boyce. She will replace the late ANC provincial spokesman Ricardo Mthembu, who died of Covid-19 last month.
Her appointment, which was kept a secret, came as surprise to many because she wasn’t on the list.
Even the ANC, which had a media briefing yesterday, didn’t say anything about her deployment.
Gumede’s supporters’ spokesman Mzomuhle Dube, who was also reluctant, confirmed the news to Daily Sun this morning that Gumede has been moved to the legislature. He said as supporters they have welcomed the appointment and congratulated her.
“We are happy that she has been appointed to the legislature. This has been long overdue in terms of her seniority in the party, if you consider that she was a mayor. We know that she will shine wherever the ANC deploys her,” said Dube.
ANC provincial spokesman Nhlakanipho Ntombela said the party will only comment and reveal the name after swearing in ceremony.
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Speaker’s spokeswoman Nomusa Phungula confirmed that a new member will be sworn in, but refused to reveal who the member was. She said the speaker will introduce the member to the public once the swearing in ceremony has been completed.
Gumede’s removal from the eThekwini Municipality means that her chances of returning as mayor are slim, as the local government elections are expected to be held next year. She was fired as the mayor last year after she was arrested and charged for corruption related to solid waste tender scandal involving millions of rand.
