The Democratic Alliance in the City of Johannesburg welcomed the dismissal of Kabelo Gwamanda by Mayor Dada Morero yesterday. Morero announced Gwamanda's dismissal from the mayoral committee with immediate effect late yesterday in a statement.

RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES

Morero said Pan Africanist Congress of Azania councillor Tebogo Nkonkou will replace Gwamanda. Morero spokesperson Chris Vondo said the mayor relieved Gwamanda, who was an MMC for community development, of all his official duties. "The decision to discharge MMC Gwamanda is effective immediately and aims to ensure that the city's service delivery remains uninterrupted and continues to meet the needs of its residents," Vondo said. Gwamanda was placed on special leave last month after he was arrested on charges of fraud for allegedly swindling Soweto residents in a funeral policy scam.

DISMISSAL WELCOMED

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng said they welcome Gwamanda's dismissal but said this does not close that chapter. Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, the party Caucus leader in the city council, said they can only imagine the damage caused by Gwamanda both during his time as MMC for Community Development and during his short stint as mayor. "The DA demanded that a full investigation be done into all agreements and Memorandums of Understandings (MOU) signed by Gwamanda during his time as Mayor and also as MMC for Community Development. We also demanded a full forensic investigation into the signatures received by Cllr Gwamanda and executive mayor Dada Morero regarding the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. It is evident that they cannot be trusted. We await the full report on this to be made public," Kayser-Echeozonjoku said. She went on to say that they reject the appointment of Nkonkou as the new MMC for Community Development, as he is known for his racist remarks in council. "We must caution him that a portfolio like Community Development boasts social cohesion as one of its mandates. We shall be watching him closely and listening to every one of his utterances with keen interest. Our mandate is and will continue to be to hold him accountable," she added.