A man who was part of the council team that ran Msunduzi municipality in Pietermaritzburg into the ground, has bounced back as chairman of the Moses Mabhida ANC region (greater Pietermaritzburg), triggering fears that he may resume a key position in the municipality.
Alpha Shelembe was re-elected for the third time as chairman at the ANC regional conference in Howick on Sunday.
His re-election, amid some protests by those seeking a “clean ANC and Msunduzi municipality”, in effect places him in a powerful position to call the shots in a municipality recovering from fraud and corruption that left its coffers almost empty.
Shelembe – forced in 2011 to resign as deputy mayor and regional treasurer amid allegations of arson and corruption – beat Bheki Nzimande to clinch the position. Both are said to be aligned to the ANC provincial chairman and KZN premier, Zweli Mkhize.
Shelembe is facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to the sale of a building in the uMgungundlovu district municipality at an inflated price in 2003. The matter is to resume in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on June 19.
In 2011 Shelembe was accused of being behind a fire at the ANC’s offices in Pietermaritzburg. The charges against him in this case were withdrawn on November 4.
At one stage during the period when Shelembe was speaker, the council’s coffers were so depleted that the municipality could keep going for only one month.
With two positions believed to be vacant in the Msunduzi council, some ANC insiders have suggested it is a matter of time before Shelembe is brought back to occupy a key position.
The DA’s caucus leader in Msunduzi, Bill Lambert, said the elections were an ANC matter and choice, but he did not expect Shelembe to be brought back on to the council.
“He was part of the scene that caused the collapse of Msunduzi. It is almost an impossibility that they could dream of bringing him back before the pending case is over,” said Lambert.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala and the Moses Mabhida region’s re-elected secretary, Super Zuma, were at pains to point out on Sunday that the re-election of Shelembe would not see Msunduzi councillors losing their positions.
“This gathering was discussing ANC matters, not council issues,” said Zikalala. “Those elected here are ANC leaders in party structures and the conference has nothing to do with those deployed in councils. There should be no concerns that some people in municipalities will be recalled.”
Zuma said the ANC region was happy with the progress in Msunduzi. There were clear signs of stability in the municipality.
“There is definitely no intention to recall those who are leading the municipality now,” said Zuma.
Former KwaZulu-Natal ANC Youth League chairman Mthandeni Dlungwana was elected deputy chairman and Mbali Myeni deputy secretary. Msunduzi councillor Thulani Xulu was elected treasurer. - The Mercury