THE re-election of controversial Alpha Shelembe to the top ANC leadership of Moses Mabhida region around Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal has sparked fears that he might soon be redeployed to the crippled Msunduzi municipality.
Former municipality deputy mayor Shelembe was voted back into the regional leadership position as chairman during a conference in Howick at the weekend. The municipality had two vacant posts in the executive council (exco) as a result of the resignation of former speaker Zonke Mbatha, and Shelembe.
There have been rumours that the two positions were left vacant to allow the holding of the ANC regional leadership elective conference before a decision was taken about who would fill them.
Shelembe resigned from the positions of deputy mayor and regional treasurer last year following charges of arson after the torching of the party's regional offices in Pietermaritzburg, and corruption.
Arson charges were dropped by the state later citing the lack of evidence linking him.
However, he still faces charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering, relating to the sale of a building in the Mgungundlovu district municipality for office and parking space, at an inflated price in 2003.
The matter will be heard in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on June 19.
Regional party secretary Supper Zuma refused to be drawn into a discussion on whether Shelembe would be deployed to the municipality, saying this was the mandate of the deployment committee.
"The election of the regional leadership has nothing to do with redeployment to the government," he said.
The municipality collapsed in the hands of the ANC - Shelembe was regional treasurer while Zuma was secretary.
Prior to the local government elections in May 2011, Zuma and Shelembe were accused by some ANC members of manipulating candidate lists resulting in sit-ins in the regional offices after the elections.
Earlier yesterday, provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala defended the election of both Shelembe and Zuma, saying they had never been found guilty of any wrongdoings, especially with regard to the collapse of the municipality in 2010.
Delivering an open address Zikalala admitted that problems in the past few years had cost the organisation dearly.
"There is a perception among people of other race groups that we do not represent their interests. We need to show everyone that the ANC is a non-racial organisation. We now have to ensure that the ANC enjoys the confidence of all races groups in the region."
He said he was aware there were people who now linked KwaZulu-Natal with tribalism.
"They claim that we want the president and the entire NEC to be Zulus. That has been done with a purpose to isolate KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the ANC policy conference in June, and then the elective leadership conference," Zikalala said.
Shelembe elected to alpha position in ANC region
THE re-election of controversial Alpha Shelembe to the top ANC leadership of Moses Mabhida region around Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal has sparked fears that he might soon be redeployed to the crippled Msunduzi municipality.
Former municipality deputy mayor Shelembe was voted back into the regional leadership position as chairman during a conference in Howick at the weekend. The municipality had two vacant posts in the executive council (exco) as a result of the resignation of former speaker Zonke Mbatha, and Shelembe.
There have been rumours that the two positions were left vacant to allow the holding of the ANC regional leadership elective conference before a decision was taken about who would fill them.
Shelembe resigned from the positions of deputy mayor and regional treasurer last year following charges of arson after the torching of the party's regional offices in Pietermaritzburg, and corruption.
Arson charges were dropped by the state later citing the lack of evidence linking him.
However, he still faces charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering, relating to the sale of a building in the Mgungundlovu district municipality for office and parking space, at an inflated price in 2003.
The matter will be heard in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on June 19.
Regional party secretary Supper Zuma refused to be drawn into a discussion on whether Shelembe would be deployed to the municipality, saying this was the mandate of the deployment committee.
"The election of the regional leadership has nothing to do with redeployment to the government," he said.
The municipality collapsed in the hands of the ANC - Shelembe was regional treasurer while Zuma was secretary.
Prior to the local government elections in May 2011, Zuma and Shelembe were accused by some ANC members of manipulating candidate lists resulting in sit-ins in the regional offices after the elections.
Earlier yesterday, provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala defended the election of both Shelembe and Zuma, saying they had never been found guilty of any wrongdoings, especially with regard to the collapse of the municipality in 2010.
Delivering an open address Zikalala admitted that problems in the past few years had cost the organisation dearly.
"There is a perception among people of other race groups that we do not represent their interests. We need to show everyone that the ANC is a non-racial organisation. We now have to ensure that the ANC enjoys the confidence of all races groups in the region."
He said he was aware there were people who now linked KwaZulu-Natal with tribalism.
"They claim that we want the president and the entire NEC to be Zulus. That has been done with a purpose to isolate KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the ANC policy conference in June, and then the elective leadership conference," Zikalala said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos