2009/11/20
BUFFALO City mayor Zukisa Faku was expelled from the ANC yesterday for bringing the image and reputation of the ruling party into disrepute.
Faku’s expulsion is pending an “automatic” appeal to the party’s national disciplinary committee by virtue of her being a councillor.
The shock announcement was made following a hearing held in Bhisho on Monday where Faku faced 12 charges.
“She never attended the disciplinary hearing and there was no apology or any reason that had been forwarded to the disciplinary committee concerning her absence,” said ANC Amathole regional disciplinary (RDC) chairperson Siphiwo Burwana at a press conference in East London yesterday.
“She is being expelled with immediate effect from the organisation pending the outcome of automatic appeal to the national disciplinary committee,” Burwana said.
Also expelled is ANC ward councillor Mzimkulu Mabeta, who faced five charges and did not attend his hearing last Thursday, either.
Faku declined to comment while Mabeta could not be reached.
Mandisile Mdleleni, minute secretary for the RDC, said: “The mayor remains a mayor until such time that national disciplinary committee has made the necessary pronouncement.”
ANC Amathole regional secretary Mziwamadoda Sotshana said: “The ANC has been at pains in trying to convince its deployees in the municipality to desist from unbecoming conduct, however, all such calls have fallen on deaf ears.”
Lulamile Nazo, the presenter of charges at the hearings, said the hearings would be a clear message that the ANC did not tolerate ill-discipline.
The Daily Dispatch yesterday quoted provincial spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyane saying regions and branches had been told to put disciplinary cases on hold.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane described the actions of the Amathole region as “abnormal”.
“It can’t be right to just expel people; to even constitute a disciplinary committee you need a provincial working committee approval.
“We question the manner things were done particularly in BCM. We don’t believe it was done in the best interest of the ANC.” — By MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA, Senior Political Correspondent. mayibongwem@dispatch.co.za
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