Share

Just who is Zandile Gumede? A look at eThekwini's mayor

At the centre of another high-profile corruption case to hit the ANC is political KwaZulu-Natal heavyweight Zandile Gumede. 

She was granted R50 000 bail on Tuesday in a case in which she is accused of a string of charges, which include money laundering, corruption and racketeering.

Gumede and regional deputy secretary Mondli Mthembu handed themselves over to the police on Tuesday morning.

The eThekwini mayor, who chairs the biggest region in KwaZulu-Natal, is one of former president Jacob Zuma’s closest allies.

The 58-year-old politician rose up the ranks of the ANC, first becoming a PR councillor and party regional treasurer between 2007 and 2015.

Out of favour

During this time, Gumede led the health, safety and social services committee. She was then elected as eThekwini mayor, defeating President Cyril Ramaphosa backer and incumbent James Nxumalo for the position of regional chairperson. 

Read more: Nxumalo, Gumede go into battle again over eThekwini chair

Known to her loyal supporters as Mama, Gumede has fallen out of favour with some in the ANC regional and provincial circles for her stubborn resistance to the unity project. 

This was evident when the provincial ANC Youth League released a statement in March lambasting her for refusing to shake the hand of its secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo.

Timeslive reported that the ANCYL in the province accused Gumede of refusing to make space for the youth.  

Her 2015 campaign for regional chair was largely championed by the young lions in the province. Her reported rivalry with secretary Bheki Ntuli has led to some punting him as her successor. 

Gumede's municipality came under fire for its decision to commission a music album with Zuma worth millions. 

After much public outrage, Gumede halted the project, announcing that protocol had not been followed. She added that she refused to drag Zuma’s name into the mud. 

Municipal strikes

The latest strike action by municipal workers from the Department of Water and Sanitation over pay discrepancies has also lifted the lid on her administration.

The workers complained that Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) members, hired by the eThekwini Municipality, had been placed in higher job grades than existing workers.

This ensured that MKMVA members received R20 000, compared to the R9 000 other Samwu workers earned. Gumede was criticised for being invisible during the protracted strike that led to violent scenes in the city.

With Gumede at the helm, the City has also been plagued with a litany of corruption and fraud related scandals. Among her detractors is the DA, which has called for the municipality to be placed under administration. 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 321 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 460 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.96
-0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.95
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.47
-0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.3%
Platinum
911.00
+1.6%
Palladium
1,012.02
+1.0%
Gold
2,213.44
+0.9%
Silver
24.79
+0.6%
Brent-ruolie
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.9%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.9%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE