CALLS FOR ZANDILE GUMEDE TO BE REINSTATED

Nhlanhla Mabaso

African National Congress (ANC) supporters in defense of Zandile Gumede embarked on a march this afternoon to the ANC Provincial Office. The March was to demand that Ms Gumede be reinstated as the Regional Chairperson, as well as the city Mayor.

Gumede was arrested for allegations of corruption which are still pending and she was released on bail worth R50 000. The leadership of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) ANC and the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) gave Gumede 30 days off while her fate in the party is being discussed.

This however didn’t prevent her loyalists  from embarking on a protest to the provincial home. Just last month protesters formed a march to the provincial office in relation to Gumede’s arrest, complaining that her arrest was wrongful and unjustified because the police never had proof of any crimes committed. They blamed the Police minister Bheki Cele and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Provincial Secretary General Thanduxolo Sabelo for being war mongers.

Today the protest took a different turn with these angry supporters who wanted to forcefully make their way into the offices demanding to be addressed. The police used rubber bullets to fire warning shots to disperse crowds that threw stones at them and in that incident Isolezwe Cameraman got injured in his chin. Deputy Chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu along with the Provincial Secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli came out to address masses, but they were rejected by the crowd who only demanded to be addressed by the provincial chairperson who is also the the KZN premier Sihle Zikalala.

The crowds made their way to the buses after one of the regional leaders addressed them that they should go home because it seems like no one will address them.

Images Courtesy: Kaveel Singh