Durban - The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has downplayed the exclusion of Indians among its preferred mayoral candidates in some of its municipalities.
It emerged on Tuesday that the party has shown the door to Newcastle mayor, Afzul Rehman, and uMgungundlovu District mayor, Yusuf Bhamjee.
It was not immediately confirmed what the future holds for Richmond mayor, Andrew Ragavaloo.
Bhamjee has been replaced by former Mkhambathini mayor, Thobekile Maphumulo, while Rehman’s post will be taken by member of the KZN provincial legislature, Makhosini Nkosi.
The dumping of the pair comes as Indians in the eThekwini Metro, such as Speaker Logie Naidoo and executive committee member Fawzia Peer, have found themselves on the not so “safe” positions on the proportional representation (PR) list, along with other mayoral committee members.
Apart from being on the PR list, Peer has also been fielded to contest a ward that is currently under the control of the DA.
At a press conference to announce ANC mayors-elect for districts and strategic municipalities, all the 15 mayoral candidates were African.
This, according to one political analyst, could put the ruling party at a disadvantage in wooing the minorities’ vote, which had proven elusive over the years.
Speaking at the press conference in Durban on Tuesday, ANC chairman, Sihle Zikalala, said the non-appointment of minorities as mayors was not as serious an issue as some people imagined.
“We are not sinking or swimming in confusion as some people want to write in papers, as if there is a serious problem,” Zikalala said.
He sought to dismiss any notion that minorities existed within the ANC, and opted to refer to his fellow comrades as South Africans.
“We’ve got South Africans, not minorities. Those who are Indian are South Africans. Those who are white are South Africans,” he said.
“We are saying today, as we said in 1955 when we adopted the Freedom Charter, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
“We have an unwavering commitment to non-racism and non-sexism,” he insisted.
In apparent annoyance over the question about exclusion of minorities from mayoral positions, Zikalala wondered aloud if the same question and questions of gender representation were asked of other parties.
He nonetheless retorted that “we are to ensure all of those comrades are properly placed and utilised”.
Zikalala also revealed that Bhamjee, who was brought to uMgungundlovu District after the recall of then mayor Bongi Sithole-Moloi in 2008, would be given another assignment.
“He is to leave the local government sphere for another sphere of government where the movement will utilise him,” he said.
Zikalala also said Rehman would be shifted from mayorship to the district as a Speaker of Amajuba District.
Rehman, who has over the years championed cost-cutting measures, said he was delighted to be made the district Speaker and viewed it as a challenging move.
“Seven years in a city is a long thing. You need fresh ideas, otherwise you do the same thing,” he said.
Neither Bhamjee nor Ragavaloo could be reached for comment.
Political analyst, Thabani Khumalo, said the axing of the Indian mayors would disadvantage the ANC as the minorities were wooed by the DA.
“If the ANC has failed to balance (minorities) representation, that will cost the ANC a lot in the elections.
“The ANC has struggled to get support from minorities,” Khumalo said.
“They consolidate the perception that the ANC represents the Africans. They fail to attract the Indian vote,” he added.