Sipho Nzuza, the city manager at the time and a co-accused in the high-profile corruption case involving former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, wrote a letter to then-mayor Mxolisi Kaunda refusing to step down from his position.
Zandile Gumede faced arrest in 2019 on charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering related to a controversial R320 million+ Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender. Several co-accused, including officials and businesspeople, were charged alongside her. The case has dragged on for years, with multiple postponements, and remains ongoing as of late 2024/early 2025.
Gumede was effectively removed as mayor in 2019 (after initially resisting resignation), and Mxolisi Kaunda was elected as her successor. The ANC’s “step-aside” policy for members facing serious criminal charges was a factor in these transitions.
The Incident
In late September 2020, amid pressure for officials implicated in the scandal to step aside, city manager Sipho Nzuza informed Mayor Kaunda in writing that he would not vacate his office. Nzuza argued he was prepared to clear his name in court and continued reporting for work. This defiance highlighted tensions in the municipality over how to handle charged officials while they awaited trial.
At the time, critics (including opposition parties like the DA) pointed to broader issues of accountability in eThekwini, where multiple councillors and officials linked to the Gumede-era tenders faced allegations but some remained in positions.
Later Developments
- Mxolisi Kaunda served as mayor until around 2024, when the ANC redeployed him.
- The corruption trial against Gumede and her co-accused (now reportedly 21+ others) has seen delays, including health issues among accused, disputes over evidence, and forensic reports. It is one of South Africa’s long-running high-level graft cases.
- eThekwini has faced significant challenges during and after this period, including infrastructure issues, service delivery problems, and the devastating 2022 floods.
This episode was part of wider ANC internal battles and public frustration with corruption in local government in KwaZulu-Natal. The original article was published by IOL (Independent Online) on 29 September 2020.
