Durban -
Former police commissioner Bheki Cele is planning a political return to Durban, where it’s believed he aims to duel for the position of ANC chairman in the eThekwini region.
Sources said Cele was coming back to his home town to contest the position he relinquished six years ago and which is now held by Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
However, his resignation from the ANC national executive committee (NEC) would not mean he would leave the government as an MP and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
It’s believed Dhlomo wants to hold on to the position, while another strong candidate mentioned is eThekwini regional treasurer Zandile Gumede, who has been described as “hands-on and hard-working”.
Cele chaired the province’s biggest region, but left the post in 2008 after being elected to the NEC at Polokwane. The late John Mchunu replaced him.
“Cele is considering resigning from the NEC. He is concerned that he is losing power in eThekwini and unable to influence matters,” said a source.
Asked for comment, Cele said he would only know if he had been nominated to stand for the position during the party’s regional conference in Durban in December.
“You go to the conference, where you are told you have made the nomination benchmark, then you are asked if you are available. All this happens during the conference.”
Asked if he would be accept the position if nominated, Cele said: “You are not the conference. I will only tell the conference when asked.”
Another source said the chairman of eThekwini Municipality’s human settlements committee, Nigel Gumede, a Cele ally, hoped to be deputy chairman under Cele.
- The Mercury