Zandile Gumede

Zandile Ruth Thelma Gumede (born 12 May 1961) is a South African who has been serving as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature since 2020. She served as the Executive Mayor of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality from 2016 until 2019. Gumede is a member of the African National Congress.

Zandile Gumede
Mayor of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
In office
23 August 2016 – 3 September 2019[1]
Preceded byJames Nxumalo
Succeeded byMxolisi Kaunda[2]
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
Assumed office
19 August 2020
Personal details
Born (1961-05-12) 12 May 1961
Durban, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress

Early life

A mother of four and a grandmother of seven, Gumede, who resides in Phoenix, was born on 12 May 1961 in Amaoti at Inanda, north of Durban. She is one of thirteen children born to Mr and Mrs Majola. Gumede attended Amaoti Primary, Okhozini Primary in Hammarsdale and JL Dube and Zwelibanzi Secondary Schools.[3] Her father was a police officer.

Politics

Her career included being a former ward councillor, executive committee member and chairperson of the Community and Emergency Services Committee. Gumede was elected as a proportional representative (PR) councillor for two terms before she became Amaoti councillor. In the eThekwini Municipality, she was also elected as treasurer from 2007 to 2015.

After 1994, Gumede worked in different community development organisations in Inanda, including the Inanda Civic Association, Inanda Development Forum, CPF and also a health organisation.

Her purchases of armoured vehicles has raised concern by some critics.[4][5][6]

After nominating Mxolisi Kaunda[2] in August 2019 as Durban's new mayor, the ruling ANC begged Gumede to resign her mayoralty.[7] On 26 August 2019 it was reported that the ANC had received Gumede's resignation,[8] but two days later Gumede withdrew her resignation.[9] Her lawyers advised her to withdraw her resignation in the light of the criminal charges she is facing.[10]

On 19 August 2020, Gumede was sworn in as a Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature, replacing Ricardo Mthembu, who died from COVID-19 in July.[11] Opposition parties criticised her appointment, while Duduzane Zuma, son of former president Jacob Zuma, congratulated her.[12][13]

Alleged involvement in crime

In December 2018, the Hawks, a South African criminal investigation unit, included Gumede in forensic investigations related to fraud, money laundering and corruption during her tenure, and personal involvement in alleged illegal tender awards, fake employment creation and various other matters.[10][14]

On 14 May 2019, Gumede appeared in the Special Commercial Crimes court in Durban for multiple crimes relating to fraud, and was released on R50 000 bail, pending further court appearances.[15][16][17] The ANC Youth League called for Gumede to resign as mayor because the bail conditions imposed by the court would not allow her to execute her mayoral functions,[18] while the ANC Women's League showed support for her to remain in office.[19] After the arrest of Gumede, the Hawks investigation officer in charge of this case, was ambushed by three gunmen and was lucky to be alive after being injured.[20] Her term as mayor came to an end when Mxolisi Kaunda was elected as Durban's mayor on 5 September 2019.[21]

On 10 October 2019, the Hawks and members of the South African National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit raided Gumede's Illchester Avenue home in Durban North.[22] However, Gumede was not found there and it was discovered that she had only rented the property and vacated it in July, subsequently changing addresses - a direct violation of her bail conditions.[23] The Hawks and the NPA then moved to Gumede's home in Inanda where they served her a court order to carry out the raids in relation to a R280 million tender scam within the Durban Solid Waste department.[22] The raids were intended to seize R51 million in assets,[24] including a number of luxury verhicles, including Porsches, Lamborghinis and Jaguar vehicles.[23] Various homes, belonging to fifteen other co-accused individuals were also targeted during the raids.[23] Footage of the raids went viral online.[24]

See also

References
  1. Zandile Gumede officially removed as eThekwini mayor, eNCA, 3 September 2019. Retrieved on 4 September 2019.
  2. NDALISO, CHRIS (24 August 2019). "Durban 'will take years to recover' from Zandile Gumede's reign". Daily News. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. "Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede". durban.gov.za. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  4. Rall, Se-Anne (29 September 2017). "Why Durban needs three multi-million rand armoured Casspirs | Daily News". iol.co.za. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  5. PILLAY, TASCHICA (1 August 2017). "'Durban is falling'". timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  6. OLIFANT, NATHI (7 June 2017). "EXPOSED: How Durban police blew R4-million on six-month vehicle rental spree". timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  7. MAVUSO, SIHLE (24 August 2019). "ANC begs Zandile Gumede and team to resign". IOL News. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  8. Herman, Paul; Singh, Kaveel (26 August 2019). "Zandile Gumede's resignation received, says ANC KZN". News24. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. Harper, Paddy (28 August 2019). "Gumede withdraws her resignation as mayor". The M&G Online. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  10. Davis, Desere (2018-12-17). "Hawks swoop in on eThekwini's Mayor Gumede over alleged corruption". Briefly. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  11. Singh, Kaveel (19 August 2020). "Zandile Gumede sworn in as MPL in KZN legislature despite ongoing corruption case". News24. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  12. Naidoo, Jehran (20 August 2020). "More 'disgust' and outrage over Zandile Gumede's appointment as KZN MPL". IOL. Durban. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  13. "Duduzane Zuma throws weight behind Zandile Gumede". eNCA. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  14. Masondo, Sipho (2018-12-17). "Hawks ready to pounce on eThekwini mayor". CityPress. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  15. Dawood, Zailnul (14 May 2019). "These are all the charges Mayor Zandile Gumede faces | Daily News". Daily News. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  16. "Why Durban Mayor Zandile Gumede 'incited' protest | IOL News". African News Agency. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  17. Singh, Kaveel (14 May 2019). "eThekwini mayor Gumede's supporters threaten, block journalists after R50K bail granted". News24. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  18. Zulu, Sifiso (14 May 2019). "ANCYL calls on Zandile Gumede to step down after corruption charges". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  19. Mayor Gumede gains support from eThekwini ANCWL as calls for her removal grow, News24. Retrieved on 13 August 2019.
  20. Rall, Se-Anne (7 August 2019). "Lead investigator in Gumede case wounded in shooting". The Mercury. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  21. "New eThekwini mayor elected". eNCA. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  22. Rondganger, Lee; Dawood, Zainul (October 10, 2019). "PICS AND VIDEOS: Hawks head to Inanda, zero in on Zandile Gumede's assets | Daily News". Independent Online (South Africa). Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  23. Heard, Tom (October 10, 2019). "Zandile Gumede raid: Here's the insane fleet of luxury cars seized [video]". The South African. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  24. Nkanjeni, Unathi (October 10, 2019). "WATCH | Asset Forfeiture Unit, Hawks raid former Durban mayor Zandile Gumede's home". TimesLIVE. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
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