COSATU appeals for the recusal of former Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda from his council duties

22 October 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng calls for the former mayor of the City of Johannesburg Kabelo Gwamanda to withdraw from his duties as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Development amid his fraud charges.

Gwamanda was arrested on Friday and later released on bail after allegations of operating an illegal funeral insurance scheme in 2012, which failed to make payments to its clients.  One of the victims who is said to have been conned by Gwamanda and his co-director of the iThemba Lama Afrika company, laid charges against him in January this year, when they recognised him on television.

These accusations levelled against Gwamanda raise serious concerns regarding vetting processes as well as escalating fraudulent activities against the poor and already overburdened working class. 

Workers are currently grasping at straws toiling to make ends meet. Whilst saving funds for the eventuality of the costs of a burial, malicious criminals remain lurking to pounce on their hard-earned money through scams. Entities who are found to be culprits of such practices must face the full might of the law and not be spared.

It is disheartening to contemplate that Gwamanda held the position of Mayor of the largest economies with a possible history of this nature. This exposes cracks in the vetting processes that if they had been followed, would have averted unwelcomed attention. The public would have also remained in the dark.

COSATU calls on the former Mayor to do the honorable thing by recusing himself from his duties as MMC until his case is resolved.

COSATU is encouraged by public servants with pending cases who have recently adhered to principle and chose to step aside to allow legal processes to unfold. The Federation expects Gwamanda to do the same.

Issued by Louisah Modikwe, Provincial Secretary, COSATU Gauteng, 22 October 2024