'Axing surprises' party

GWAMANDA SACKING: AL JAMA-AH UNHAPPY WITH MAYOR'S DECISION

- Thando Nondywana

Jama-ah political party is crying foul over the dismissal of former Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda as MMC for community development over the weekend. Gwamanda's removal follows fraud allegations linked to a bogus funeral insurance scheme.

The party expressed dissatisfaction with mayor Dada Morero's decision to remove Gwamanda, arguing that it was not adequately discussed with the party or with coalition partners.

Al Jama-ah provincial chair and former mayor Thapelo Amad said: "There was no proper consultation process. It's a reckless decision because our party wasn't engaged, so we can't assess whether it was justifiable.

In the city, the coalition is overseen by a political management committee, but there was no thorough consultation between the government of local unity (GLU) parties or with the mayor on this decision. Other than the GLU the party was never consulted by the ANC."

Amad acknowledged that while MMCs serve at the mayor's discretion, this removal was a unilateral move by the mayor.