The knives are out for Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo following allegations of corruption against him aired at the state capture commission.
The Sunday Times understands that the ANC's Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC) will tomorrow consider whether Makhubo should be told to take leave of absence as executive mayor.
This week the Zondo commission heard that between 2008 and 2018, Makhubo, as the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for finance and the ANC's Johannesburg regional treasurer, allegedly influenced tenders in favour of suppliers including IT company EOH in exchange for millions in kickbacks to the party and his company, Molelwane.
State capture inquiry evidence leader advocate Matthew Chaskalson told the commission that Makhubo was not being truthful when he said that he had resigned from Molelwane in 2011 and derived no more financial benefit from the company.
Companies that were service providers to the city had made payments to Molelwane and were also big donors to the ANC in the region when he ran its finance office, the commission heard.
"Chair, I am going to suggest that there was a corrupt relationship here. I am going to rely, in part, on the false statements he has made in relation to Molelwane," said Chaskalson.
The commission heard that EOH made donations to the ANC, allegedly in exchange for contracts.
Among the donations to the ANC by EOH was R2m in December 2013 "for development and education services". Another was a R3m donation on April 16 2014, the same day an EOH entity made an unsolicited proposal to the city for a multimillion-rand contract.
Makhubo's detractors said this week that the ANC cannot allow Makhubo to continue as mayor in the wake of the allegations. The mayor's opponents want him removed as early as tomorrow. He is expected to appear before the provincial integrity commission in the next three weeks.
"It's a big thing. You can try and downplay it, but it's at the core of corruption in the City of Johannesburg," said an ANC Gauteng PEC member who wished to remain anonymous.
"Because of what we see, he must step aside . Step aside or take leave while the matter is being concluded by the provincial integrity commission."
According to the insider, the PEC will agree that Makhubo must be removed, as the "numbers are there", with members having been lobbied ahead of the meeting.
They will, however, allow Makhubo to remain as ANC Gauteng regional chair as well as a normal councillor in the municipality.
Makhubo was previously cleared by the provincial integrity commission, which found there was no conflict of interest in him being the ANC's regional treasurer, the city's MMC of finance and a shareholder of his company.
This was after he told the integrity commission that he had resigned from the company as far back as 2011, a claim the state capture commission was told was a lie. The commission heard that Makhubo was still a shareholder and running the company's finances as late as 2019.
ANC Johannesburg regional secretary Dada Morero would not be drawn into discussing tomorrow's PEC meeting. However, he said in a statement that they commended Makhubo for subjecting himself to the Zondo commission and the integrity commission.
Morero said the region had mandated him to ask the PEC to deal urgently with Makhubo's case.
Makhubo had not responded to questions by the time of going to print.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.