SIGNS saying Gumede must go, the Mayor must be dismissed, were hoisted in the air as thousands of members of civil society marched through the CBD to the City Hall last Friday, calling for eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede to step down.
Gumede and her fellow accused, councillor Mondli Mthembu and supplier Craig Ponan were released on bail after being charged with fraud, corruption, and racketeering.
The organisations taking part in the march included members from the Active Citizens Movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Market Users Committee, Bunye bamaHostela, the Poor Flat Dwellers Association, Right2Know KZN, Mayine, and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance.
They said they shared a common goal which was to demand action from provincial and national government to intervene in the eThekwini Municipality for the people of the city. They also urged that whistle-blowers and witnesses who had spoken out against corruption and fraud be protected.
Abahlali baseMjondolo’s Mqapheli Bonono said: “The entire city is dysfunctional at the moment and services to the people of Durban have been brought to standstill. The city has been brought into this crisis after being looted by gangster politicians, who are willing to murder each other, and anyone who opposes them, in their fight for personal enrichment. Now that the mayor has been arrested, and 62 councillors have been threatened with arrest, they are fighting to retain their positions by force.”
ALSO READ: Political parties respond to Durban Mayor’s corruption charges
The Hawks’ National Clean Audit Task Team’s investigation into a R208 million DSW tender revealed that service providers were allegedly paid huge amounts even though they did not render any service. Sixteen people, including suppliers and senior eThekwini staff, have been arrested and charged.
Ubunye bama Hostela’s Mazwenjabulo Ndwandwe, said: “We just need her to resign while she is being investigated. The mayor’s bail conditions were stated clearly by the Durban Special Commercial Crime Court. They say she must refrain from any involvement in city operations. There are still unanswered questions that need investigation, all the way to the councillors. A serious corruption clean-up must be done in this council.”
“We have to make sure that our rights are being protected. We are telling the mayor that she must go. We cannot keep a leader who is able to steal from the poor. We are calling for the ANC at national level to act in the best interest of the people of Durban by immediately removing all gangsters that have taken over our city,” added Bonono.
The municipality was given 14 days to respond to the joint memorandum handed over to the city, detailing their concerns.
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