Kunene backs 'anointed' Gwamanda amid qualifications debate
As the debate around his qualification rages on, Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Kenny Kunene has thrown his weight behind the appointment of Kabelo Gwamanda as Johannesburg mayor.
Action SA has called on the two major parties that backed Gwamanda in the vote to replace his Al Jama-ah colleague Thapelo Amad to account.
“The ANC and EFF have a lot to account for in terms of the rising costs of their deal in Gauteng which continues to see Mayors being forced onto Joburg residents that not only lack a discernible constituency or vision but also face serious allegations of fraud,” said Funzi Ngobeni – who was up against Gwamanda and the Democratic Alliance’s Mpho Phalatse in the mayoral ballot.
“The last thing Joburg needs is a mayor who is alleged to be willing to defraud its residents while his strings are being pulled by the ANC and EFF.”
Phalatse said there were allegations Gwamanda had defrauded unsuspecting investors through his company iThemba Lama Afrika.
READ: Retract or else...Gwamanda's lawyers write to Phalatse over scam claims
On Monday, Kunene said Gwamanda should be given a chance, and compared him to former president Jacob Zuma.
“Winston Churchill is one of the great minds that the world has ever seen, and he was mocked for not being educated. President Jacob Zuma is one of the great leaders that have come out of this country, a struggle hero and he was mocked that he’s not educated. He’s built universities, he’s done well during his tenure.
“When G*d has anointed you to be a leader, education can do nothing. We’ve had a mayor who was doing fashion shows, who is a doctor, what did she do?”
He clarified that the coalition, nor the PA, was involved in the vetting process of the then-mayoral candidate.
“The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), PA, and the coalition didn’t vet the mayor. It’s the ANC that vetted the mayor.”
Kunene insisted that Gwamanda should be given a chance based on his history as a former advisor of late Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo, and the many years of experience he has as a councillor.
Meanwhile, in a doorstop interview in Alexandra on Tuesday Gwamanda asked reporters: “What if I am the black version of John Steenhuisen?”
Steenhuisen’s lack of a post-matric qualification first came to light when he was up against Mmusi Maimane for the top job in the party, and again became a bone of contention when he was challenged by Phalatse - who is a medical doctor.
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