Former mayor of the City of Johannesburg Kabelo Gwamanda is unlikely to remain in his post as community development MMC for much longer.
His appointment by the ANC/EFF coalition, which took control of the city almost two years ago, was an epic farce. They placed him at the helm of SA’s most economically significant city.
Gwamanda was arrested on fraud charges last week, for allegedly running a funeral policy scam over a decade ago. Victims were told that the scheme’s two directors had committed suicide, only to see one of them later appear on television as the new Johannesburg mayor.
Johannesburg is the largest budget city on the continent; it is a business and investment centre for the province, the country and the continent. The ANC at the time of his appointment indicated that he had been vetted, but party chair Panyaza Lesufi has conceded that he was not.
In effect, the ANC/EFF coalition appointed an alleged fraudster to the post, without putting any thought into whether he could do the job — this is the strongest indication that he was placed there to do their bidding without question. In a country where corruption and incompetence go hand in hand, a con man is the perfect front for those wanting to push their own agendas.
It is no wonder every facet of service delivery in Johannesburg is collapsing. Gwamanda’s appointment was an insult to residents and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Will the ANC and EFF concede that they messed up, apologise and accept the consequences of their poor judgment? Probably not.
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