By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has officially relieved Kabelo Gwamanda of his duties as Community Development MMC.
The announcement was made on Saturday by the office of the mayor.
Gwamanda has been replaced by Patriotic Alliance (PA) councillor Tebogo Nkonkou.
“The executive mayor expressed confidence that [councillor] Nkonkou will lead the department with the dedication and commitment to further improve the lives of the city’s residents.”
Gwamanda was arrested for fraud on Friday, 18 October, for swindling Soweto residents in a funeral policy scam that he ran in 2011 and 2012.
An investigation by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority last year found that Gwamanda disappeared in 2012 when his clients came searching for their money.Gwamanda has previously defended himself against allegations of dubious dealings in connection with his company, iThemba Lama Afrika funeral scheme.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, Gwamanda and his co-accused Mduduzi Zonde appeared at Protea Magistrates’ Court, on charges of fraud amounting to R12,000 in connection with the criminal case.
Both Gwamanda and Zonde were each ordered to pay R2,000 bail.
The matter will be back in court on 3 December 2024, according to Mjonondwane.
Gwamanda served as the mayor of Johannesburg from May 2023 to August 2024, succeeding fellow Al Jama-ah councillor Thapelo Amad.
He resigned on 13 August following pressure from both the ANC and the public regarding the city’s condition.
He was recently tipped to be the party’s representative on the GNU’s clearing-house dispute resolution committee, headed by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.