SOUTH Africa’s ruling African National Congress elected a former mayor who has been charged with corruption to a top post in one of its key regions, dealing a blow to president Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to clean up the party.
The ANC in the eastern eThekwini municipality, which has more branches than any other urban center, on Sunday chose Zandile Gumede as its chairwoman. She won 210 votes while Ramaphosa ally Thabani Nyawose, the municipality’s speaker, secured 181.
The president has made the fight against corruption, which became endemic during his predecessor Jacob Zuma’s nine-year rule, a top priority since he won the control of the ANC in 2017.
The party has adopted a rule stating that officials facing criminal charges must step down from their posts but that doesn’t preclude them from seeking election.
Gumede, who is a close ally of Zuma, and 20 co-accused face charges of fraud, corruption
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