‘Surprise party’ organisers not giving up
The organisers of the controversial Gumede "surprise celebration party" are hoping to present her with gifts.
|||Durban - The organisers of the controversial “surprise celebration party” for ANC eThekwini regional chairwoman, Zandile Gumede, are hoping to present her with gifts.
“There is a sheep, five chicken and other gifts which we are to present to her,” one of the party organisers, Ntombenhle Tembe, said on Tuesday.
“We do not know when we are to present her, but we will arrange a date. We don’t know if she will accept them,” Tembe said.
This comes after Gumede and ANC leaders snubbed the R150 000 party held at uMhlanga Coastlands Hotel on Monday.
It celebrated Gumede as a woman leader after her election as ANC regional chairwoman, when she ousted mayor James Nxumalo in absentia at a conference this month.
The party, which organisers said continued with about 80 guests until about 11pm, was organised by five business people, Gumede’s friends and ANC members.
Tembe said their gesture was out of love for Gumede, but a “challenge” stopped her from attending because of a meeting.
“We were very disappointed because we had planned everything with ANC members and branches,” she said.
“It was an honest gesture on our part and we paid everything ourselves, including a hotel room in order that she sleeps over,” she said.
Gumede could not be reached for comment as her cellphone went unanswered and she did not respond to text messages.
The ANC claimed it had been unaware of the party, and condemned the move.
Regional secretary, Bheki Ntuli, said the hosting of the party was never officially brought to the ANC’s attention and the organisation’s executive never met to discuss it.
“We only knew that some women were planning a Christmas party for her. They were to inform us officially, but that did not reach us. We hear it was cancelled,” Ntuli said.
Provincial spokesman, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said they had initially assumed the party was organised by the region, and did not know it was aligned to the regional conference.
“We don’t encourage members to convene parties intended to celebrate the outcome of party conference, which are internal process of the organisation,” Ntuli said.
The ANC Youth League, which backed Gumede’s election, said it did not get involved with the party because it had not known who had organised it. “It was organisationally incorrect to have that function,” regional secretary, Siqiniseko Shezi, said.
Meanwhile, a political analyst said fears of creating a perception that Gumede was beholden to business people could have been a reason why she snubbed the party.
Also, that she would have acted against unity talks within the faction-riddled ANC could have been a consideration. “It is possible she knew about the surprise party, and that the people close to her advised her not to attend,” University of KwaZulu-Natal political studies lecturer, Bheki Mngomezulu, said.
Mngomezulu said “the surprise celebration party” could have had political implications for Gumede as the leader of the ANC’s biggest region.
“Even those who did not deserve to win tenders, they could claim they were not awarded tenders because they did not support a particular leader.”
Mngomezulu said attendance at the party could have also sent mixed messages on unity talks in the ANC after the recent elective conferences.
“The unity talks have meant that the losing camp should not be made a laughing stock, and all should work toward unity ahead of local government elections,” he said.
Daily News