Buffalo City's top officials defy ANC, refuse to step aside

THE top echelon of the Buffalo City Metro, charged for their role in the R6-million Nelson Mandela memorial fund scandal, yesterday defied a national instruction by the ANC to step aside.

On Monday, executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, deputy mayor Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo and a senior councillor, Sindiswa Gomba, were charged alongside Ondela Mahlangu, the director in the office of the mayor, and local businesswoman Viwe Vazi.

ANC national spokesman and national executive committee member Zizi Kodwa was reported yesterday as saying all ANC deployees in council as well as the ANC regional secretary Mkolo were expected to step aside to avoid dragging the ANC's name through the mud.

However, it was believed a Sakhumzi Somyo-led provincial executive committee delegation instructed the ANC council caucus to continue with business as usual, according to the Daily Dispatch.

The instruction from the provincial executive is in contrast to the one issued by the ANC hierarchy.

While the council meeting was under way at the East London City Hall yesterday, two more people appeared in the East London Magistrate's Court.

East London businessman Dean William Fanoe, owner of Mantella Trading 522 cc, and Johannesburg attorney Zintle Nkuhlu were arrested yesterday and charged with money laundering and fraud.

They were added to the same charge sheet as the nine others – who have been charged in connection with the R6-million Nelson Mandela memorial services scandal.

Their arrests relate to money meant for Nelson Mandela memorial services illegally being used for other purposes.

Some R5.9-million was allegedly paid by BCM to East London taxi boss Mzwandile Sokwali's company Victory Ticket cc to ferry mourners to memorial services around the city after Mandela's death in December.

Sokwali and his wife, Blanche Boti, were charged earlier this year for the alleged fraud and the ongoing investigation saw the metro's top political structure handing themselves over to the Hawks police unit on Monday morning.

Simon-Ndzele told councillors they had no plans to take a leave of absence.

"We recommit ourselves as this troika [the mayor, deputy mayor and herself] to work for the institution. We are elected by the community.

"We are going to cooperate with the Hawks and we are still interested in serving the interests of the public with honesty and dignity."

Ncitha declined to comment on her appearance at the council meeting.

Yesterday, Fanoe and Nkuhlu also complied with a request to report to the Hawks, after they did not appear in court with the rest of the accused.

A sum of R1.38-million was paid to Mantella Trading, which was used to order T-shirts bearing Mandela's face.

It later emerged Nkuhlu received R350000 from the funds through Lily Rose Trust which she co-owns with Sibongile Luthuli.

Fanoe was first to hand himself over to the Hawks yesterday, followed by Nkuhlu just before lunch.

Both accused appeared sombre in the dock after being led from the holding cells below.

Acting magistrate Leon Kemp set bail at R10000 for each of them. The next court date is September 1. - Mphumzi Zuzile and Ray Hartle