Zandile Gumede eThekwini corruption

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 16: Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede during day 3 of the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on February 16, 2019 in Durban, South Africa – Photo: Darren Stewart / Gallo Images

“Pay back the money”: EFF ask Zandile Gumede to return six-figure wage

Zandile Gumede is coming up for her second month on paid suspension. However, local EFF representatives want her to return that whopping government wage.

Zandile Gumede eThekwini corruption

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 16: Mayor Cllr Zandile Gumede during day 3 of the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on February 16, 2019 in Durban, South Africa – Photo: Darren Stewart / Gallo Images

As Zandile Gumede’s suspension approaches the two month-mark, opposition parties have raised concerns about the amount of money she will be raking in as eThekwini Mayor, despite not working since June.

Her suspension was extended until at least the first week of August after the initial 30-days elapsed without any updates about the situation. She was put on leave last month after being charged on multiple counts of tender fraud, awarding dodgy contracts to the likes of Durban Solid Waste (DSW) and flouting the correct procedures.

“No work, no pay”: EFF attack eThekwini mayor

EFF KwaZulu-Natal leader Vusi Khoza is suggesting, while the municipality finds itself at this impasse, Zandile Gumede must be prevented from collecting her monthly salary.

In fact, it was also stated she must pay back the money that the controversial official has earned since June. In a rousing speech to the eThekwini Legislature, Khoza said that a “no work, no pay” rule must be enforced:

“The EFF notes that it is almost two months since the mayor of eThekwini, Zandile Gumede, was forced to take a leave of absence. eThekwini cannot afford to pay any more money to someone who is not working. The rule of no work, no pay must be applied in this case.”

Vusi Khoza

How much money does Zandile Gumede earn?

As a municipal mayor, her yearly salary works out to be R1.35 million – which is roughly the same as what Julius Malema makes as the leader of a “minority party” in Parliament – it’s good work if you can get it.

That breaks down to monthly payments of R112 000. So, while eThekwini tries to fix the damage caused by the mayoral department, Gumede will reel-in yet another six-figure payment. By the time she potentially returns to work next month, the embattled mayor will have pocketed R224 000.

In Gumede’s absence, chaos has reigned in the local chambers. Municipal workers aren’t being paid, and the DA have launched a bid to have the Municipal Parliament dissolved. At the start of July, protesters defending Zandile Gumede wreaked havoc on the streets of Durban. The sooner this issue is resolved, the better.