African National Congress (ANC) KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial spokesperson Ricardo Mthembu on Wednesday said the party could not be held to ransom by the supporters of embattled eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede who have threatened to take action if she is permanently removed as mayor this coming weekend.

Mthembu spoke to Polity following the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting on Tuesday which took a decision to extend Gumede’s leave.

Gumede is facing fraud and corruption charges related to a R208-million Durban solid waste tender. She is currently out on R50 000 bail.

Meanwhile, ANC KZN provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli said: “The PEC decided that the leave of absence for all affected comrades including the two mayors of Newcastle and eThekwini [municipalities] respectively, as well as an [employee] of Eskom in eThekwini, should be further extended to allow more time for affected comrades of the organisation to finalise work on the matter.”

Meanwhile, Mthembu said the party was analysing the impacts of the various cases on the ANC and society.

“It is not only the eThekwini Mayor and Newcastle, there are other cases of comrades who are alleged to have conflict with the law. We are not replacing courts but [our mandate] is to make sure that we do not make people hesitate on our credibility as the ANC,” he said.

He added that the party was not afraid of engaging on the Gumede matter but added that it could not be held to ransom about taking a decision.

PIETERMARITZBURG MUNICIPALITY

When asked about the issues facing the Pietermaritzburg Municipality under the helm of well-known businessman turned Mayor Themba Njilo, Mthembu denied the recent reports that Njilo wanted to step down in the face of various crises facing the municipality.

Pietermaritzburg is one of the KZN municipalities which has been placed under administration.

Mthembu told Polity that the ANC was finalising the reports presented to the PEC by the provincial working committee.

“I cannot pre-empt what the ANC direction will be before the meeting. My responsibility as a spokesperson is to communicate the decisions and yet there is no decision. We have not received a resignation letter from Mayor Njilo. As a deployee of the ANC he has not communicated anything with us,” Mthembu said.