The youth wing of the IFP has expressed discontent over Zandile Gumede’s appointment as eThekwini mayor and took to the streets of Durban to demand her removal.
On Friday, 31 May 2019, the Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade (IFPYB) members came out in thousands to march against eThekwini District’s newly-appointed mayor, Zandile Gumede. The march began at Botha’s Park and headed to the Durban City Hall where the IFPYB delivered a memorandum in which it called for the suspension of Gumede due to the criminal charges she faces.
The IFPYB said that Gumede should not be involved in the day-to-day business of the mayoral office. It also said that she should not disrespect her court order which she has now allegedly violated in attending and delivering the Budget Speech.
“We cannot have one person holding the whole City on ransom. She should shape out until such a time that she has cleared her name,” IFPYB national chairperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa said
Gumede is currently out on R50 000 bail after having been arrested for an irregular signage of 46 cars during the African National Congress’ (ANC) 2017 elections campaign. It was reported that the vehicles were allegedly used by high-ranking ANC officials in and around the eThekwini municipality to run personal errands.
After her release, the mayor was given strict bail conditions, including being barred from certain offices in the municipality to avoid intimidating witnesses to the alleged crimes.
Earlier this week, Gumede delivered eThekwini’s budget, which she described as an “action budget” and called on councillors to ensure less talk and more implementation.
“We want no excuses and explanations for under-spending, all we ask is for action.
“This is an action budget, it is an implementation season, an age of Thuma Mina. We want action, that is our emphasis,” she said.
Abenathi Gqomo
