The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) notes that former Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has been arrested and charged with fraud for scamming Soweto residents through a fraudulent funeral scheme. Gwamanda, recently appointed as the MMC for Community Development, has also been involved in overseeing public participation in the controversial proposal to rename Sandton Drive.
Gwamanda recently stated that the renaming of Sandton Drive is “budgeted for, and will happen once due processes have been followed… The public participation is for measuring the impact that it has on society, but the city has, ultimately, decided on the renaming.” Gwamanda went on to state that public participation is mandatory, but that it is purely procedural as the city has already taken the decision.” (The Citizen)
It is clear that Gwamanda, who has stolen money from the poor for his own enrichment and who’s statements indicate a clear disregard for public opinion, lacks the ethical integrity to hold the position of MMC or oversee any part of this farcical renaming endeavour.
It is further noted that the party that Gwamanda represents, al Jama-ah, has issued a statement questioning the timing of this arrest. It is troubling that a party that claims to have a backing in morality is more perturbed by the timing of an arrest than by a representative being accused of wanton theft and graft. Al Jama-ah would do well to focus on protecting the citizens who have been affected by Gwamanda’s scam rather than continuing to fight for a motion that is designed to create disunity in the city and great discomfort for the Jewish population.
We once again call on the Johannesburg government to dispose of the divisive renaming initiative and to work toward rebuilding our great city.