Buffalo City top brass must step aside

SENIOR Buffalo City councillors, including the mayor, her deputy and the council speaker, have been asked to step aside following their high-profile arrest and court appearance on Monday.

This was said by ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa yesterday afternoon following a national working committee meeting in Johannesburg.

Those arrested included Buffalo City ANC regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo, mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, deputy mayor Themba Tinta, speaker Luleka Simon and senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba.

BCM executive manager Ondela Mahlangu and businesswoman Viwe Vazi were also arrested.

Kodwa said the arrests had been discussed at the national working committee meeting.

"All the ANC deployee's must step aside for the sake of [Nelson] Mandela's name, his family and the ANC's sake," he said. The instruction that the five go on leave until the case had been finalised was in line with party resolutions taken at the 2012 Mangaung conference.

The ANC had clearly stated that corruption relating to the misappropriation of public funds as well as money laundering was a serious offence.

However, Kodwa said the accused were innocent until proven guilty.

"But we are saying to these comrades – use your own political consciousness and steer the ANC's name away from this. That is not admission of guilt, but because as individuals you were deployed by the ANC, and anything they do reflects on the ANC, it is important to protect the ANC's name."

Both Mkolo and Ncitha serve on the party's provincial executive committee (PEC) – Mkolo by virtue of being a regional secretary.

Ncitha is also a member of the party's disciplinary committee (PDC) and working committee (PWC) – the ANC's implementing agent for decisions.

ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane stopped short of asking those arrested to step down, but rather placed the onus on them.

"The party resolution is clear, but it is up to the individual's conscience to decide what to do," Qoboshiyane said.

When Port Elizabeth PEC member Andile Lungisa faced similar corruption charges late last year – a case which is still ongoing – he took a leave of absence.

Kodwa said it was of major concern to the party's leadership that the allegedly misappropriated funds were meant for Mandela's funeral.

"There can't be corruption in the name of Mandela. They must step aside," he said.

It is understood that all the affected senior councillors had been advised to take a leave of absence by yesterday afternoon.

It will only become clear whether they adhere to the instructions today as the BCM council is scheduled to meet at 11am.

The ANC caucus will have to appoint an acting speaker and mayor to officiate at today's meeting if Ncitha and Simon take leave. Qoboshiyane said the party had appointed an integrity committee to deal with the matter.

According to the Daily Dispatch, more arrests are expected, including ANC politicians, Buffalo City metro officials and business owners.

"More than 20 people, including civilians and a few senior ANC members who benefited from this, will be arrested," a source said.

Hawks spokesman Paul Ramaloko confirmed that more arrests were expected.

"This is an ongoing investigation that will see more people arrested. The team has worked around the clock to make these arrests." - Mphumzi Zuzile and Bongani Fuzile