Joburg Mayor Morero to meet with Gwamanda following weekend arrest
City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has raised concerns following the arrest of Kabelo Gwamanda, a former mayor and current Member of the mayoral committee (MMC), over the weekend.
Gwamanda was arrested for allegedly conning residents in Soweto out of claim payments in an alleged funeral policy scam.
He allegedly ran a funeral policy scam through his company, iThemba Lama Africa, selling policies to Soweto residents in 2011; however, residents said they could not find the company offices to claim their pay-outs.
Morero says the developments in Gwamanda's arrest need to be handled with a sense of urgency on behalf of the city's residents to ensure that it does not impact service delivery.
"I wish to confirm that as a first step, I am meeting Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda tomorrow (Tuesday) to receive his counsel and official report.
"Consequently, as a deployee of the ANC in political office, we are guided by the ANC’s position on similar matters and cannot and do not expect any less from our partners in government."
Morero added that Gwamanda's situation meets the minimum requirements for the step-aside rule to kick in.
"As we deal with this matter with the urgency it requires, we shall make use of the authority vested in us in office, including as provided for in the Code of Conduct for Councillors, to execute our responsibilities faithfully and without favour."
However, City Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu said Gwamanda would continue to serve as the MMC for Community Development.
"Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs), serve at the behest and pleasure of the Executive Mayor. However, they remain Councillors and as such must account to the legislature for their conduct.
"The legislature, through the Ethics Committee is empowered to pursue investigations in instances where there may be possible transgressions that are contrary to and inconsistent with the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
"Upon being sworn into Council, Councillors are required to sign a pledge where they commit to honour and be faithful to the rules and laws of the Republic of South Africa, and must always abide by and obey them in a manner that does not bring harm to the integrity of the Municipality.
"The rules currently, as they stand, do not give authority to the legislature to investigate breaches of privilege that have occurred outside of a Councillor’s tenure."
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