No decision yet over Shelembe’s successor

Leanne Jansen

The ANC had not yet decided who it would appoint as former Msunduzi deputy mayor Alpha Shelembe’s successor, and no date for such deliberations had been set.

This was according to provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala yesterday, after Shelembe’s resignation from office on Tuesday due to public and internal pressure.

ANC regional secretary Super Zuma could not be reached, and the office of Premier Zweli Mkhize referred queries relating to the new deputy mayor to Zikalala.

Zikalala said that the deputy mayor’s vacancy was not an isolated issue, as an ANC provincial task team was currently dealing with several matters at Msunduzi. Only after a report had been issued by the task team – which would occur “soon” – would the matter of Shelembe’s replacement be tackled, he said.

Sibusiso Sithole, the administrator appointed to the beleaguered municipality in February, was also unable yesterday to provide a timeframe for Shelembe’s replacement.

Shelembe’s resignation as both ANC regional treasurer and deputy mayor was welcomed by the ANC.

He resigned after increasing calls in recent weeks by Cosatu, the SACP and ANC members, including provincial executive committee member Makhosi Khoza, for both him and Msunduzi Speaker Zonke Mbatha to be removed from their positions.

They were seen as being party to the municipality’s near collapse last year, while Shelembe also faced criminal charges relating to his former tenure at the Umgungundlovu district municipality.

Last week he was also implicated in a fire set at the ANC’s Pietermaritzburg headquarters, with the party saying it would take disciplinary action against him.

Shelembe yesterday said he welcomed the instituting of such steps against him.

“If the ANC believes I must go through that process within my party, then I must,” he said.

Shelembe said that contrary to a story carried in yesterday’s Mercury, he was never a member or supporter of the IFP, and had always been loyal to the ANC.