Phalatse questions why it took over a year for Gwamanda to account for his fraud allegations
City of Joburg Community Development MMC Kabelo Gwamanda was arrested and released on bail on Friday, for his involvement in a funeral insurance scheme allegedly defrauding unsuspecting Soweto residents.
Former Johannesburg mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Former Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse has questioned why it has taken more than a year for Community Development MMC Kabelo Gwamanda to account for his fraud allegations.
Gwamanda was arrested and released on bail on Friday, for his involvement in a funeral insurance scheme allegedly defrauding unsuspecting Soweto residents.
Phalatse blew the lid on Gwamanda’s fraud allegations in May last year – shortly after he was elected Mayor.
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While Phalatse has welcomed his arrest she has asked why now.
"What is surprising to me is how everybody is acting surprised. The ANC [African National Congress] included every other political party that supported his election. When we raised this alarm, none of them met with any of the victims to try and establish the facts."
She said those who deployed Gwamanda to the government must also account.
"Now, they are acting as though they did not know. There was enough evidence for them to question his election as mayor and entrust such a huge budget and responsibility to somebody with such a questionable past."