Kabelo Gwamanda is the new mayor of Johannesburg. [Picture:
Johannesburg’s coalition governing party Al-Jama’ah has hit back at the Democratic Alliance over that party’s allegations levelled against its mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda. The party issued an ultimatum to retract allegations that he scammed people.
The three-seat party has occupied the top position since the DA’s Mpho Phalatse was ousted in a motion of no confidence three months ago, first with Thapelo Amad and now with Kabelo Gwamanda. It has been ruling under a coalition arrangement with the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Last week, Phalatse, as the DA’s caucus leader, claimed that Gwamanda “swindled and scammed” unsuspecting residents into investing in a funeral/investment scheme. This, she alleged, was through his entity iThemba Lama Afrika. Al-Jama’ah said this did not come up during the vetting process.
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DA has 48 hours to retract
On Tuesday, Al-Jama’ah gave its opposition 48 hours to retract the allegations or face legal action. It branded Phalatse’s claims as ‘cheap politics’ and defended their man as a law-abiding citizen.
“We are disappointed at the level to which the DA, in opposition, when defeated politically, resorts to cheap politicking and a failed attempt to defame the character of the newly elected executive mayor even before he has stepped into his office,” said Al-Jama’ah’s provincial spokesperson Anisa Mazimpaka.
She laid out her party’s demand, saying, “The executive mayor is a law-abiding citizen. We demand the DA retract its lies against the mayor and demand it issue an apology, both verbal and written, within the next 48 hours — failing which we will advise the executive mayor to instruct his legal team to approach the courts for remedial action and sue the DA for defamation of character”.
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Allegations against Gwamanda
Meanwhile, Phalatse denied accusations that she had a personal vendetta against the new mayor. Instead, she argued, she was assisting those who were allegedly scammed by Gwamanda.
She said she had “gathered quite a significant amount of information on the matter”, adding that she was a ‘mediator’ and a public representative.
“Our interest is that people get justice, but our interest from council’s perspective is that we are able to also investigate from our end the fitness of councillor Gwamanda to hold office,” she told Newzroom Afrika.
When asked about his thoughts on the accusation being levelled against Gwamanda, political analyst Sandile Swana suggested the DA’s behaviour was like that of a sore loser.
“Every councillor is fit to be a mayor. The DA lost the vote. Now, they are going to the police station to win an election at the police station. Kabelo will know how to answer the questions, so I’m not even bothered about the allegations of the DA,” he said.
Julie Allie and Sandile Swana discussed the allegations and Kabelo Gwamanda’s capability to run the City of Johannesburg. Listen to the full discussion here:
