Panyaza unsure if Gwamanda vetted before appointment as Joburg mayor

JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) Gauteng chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi said he’s unsure whether Al Jama-ah councillor, Kabelo Gwamanda, was vetted before being elected Joburg mayor.

Gwamanda, who is currently Community Development MMC, was elected to the city’s highest office last year through the backing of the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Earlier this week, Gwamanda was placed on special leave after being arrested for fraud over his involvement in a bogus funeral insurance scheme.

Before Gwamanda was elected mayor, Thapelo Amad, also an Al Jama-ah councillor, served in the position for three months. Lesufi said he was heavily involved in vetting Amad, and ensuring that he was fit to serve as mayor.

However, when asked whether Gwamanda was also vetted, Lesufi implied that he may have slipped through the cracks.

"I'm not exactly sure that the vetting process that we normally do as the ANC was requested and was utilised. But I have seen in some report the regional secretary saying it was done and didn’t pick it up [fraud allegations] because at the time there was no case."

Similar scenes played out in Tshwane last year when it emerged the ANC and EFF failed to vet the late Murunwa Makwarela from the Congress of the People (COPE) party before electing him as mayor.

Days after his election, it was revealed Makwarela was an unrehabilitated insolvent, which disqualified him as mayor and PR councillor.