ANC MP and former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and acting ANC Women’s League secretary Bitsa Lenkopane have been found guilty of misconduct and were suspended from the ruling party for five years.
This comes after the North West disciplinary committee held a disciplinary committee earlier this week.
Mahumapelo and Lenkopane were suspend two weeks ago amid claims that they held parallel rally metres away from one held by the party’s interim leadership committee (IPC) in Mareetsane six months ago.
Provincial disciplinary committee chairperson Wendy Matsemela said Mahumapelo and Lenkopane were both found guilty as charged.
“After considering the aggravating factors as submitted by the presenter of evidence on behalf of the ANC represented by the IPC in the North West, the committee therefore concluded… that both members are hereby suspend from the ANC for a period of five years with immediate effect,” Matsemela said.
She also said Mahumapelo and Lenkopane would also be removed from the list of public representatives of the ANC.
“Comrade Supra will undergo a mentorship programme on political leadership under former president of the ANC and the Republic of South Africa comrade Thabo Mbeki for a period of three years.
“Comrade Bitsa Lenkopane will be also placed under mentorship programme under comrade veteran Barbara Masekela or any other designated senior leader to assist her for a period of five years,” Matsemela said.
She said both Mahumapelo and Lenkopane have been advised of their right to appeal the verdict or sanction with the national disciplinary committee within 21 days from the date of receipt of the ruling.
IPC convenor Hlomane Chauke confirmed that the provincial disciplinary committee had concluded its work and issued a statement.
“It is true that the provincial disciplinary committee has finalised its work and confirmed it formally suspended the two comrades,” Chauke said.
He also said they would receive a give full report from the provincial disciplinary committee tomorrow for processing by the IPC.
Chauke said his understanding was that Mahumapelo had attended the disciplinary hearing and that he was within his right to lodge an appeal.
Mahumapelo and Lenkopane could not be immediately reached for comment.
Commenting earlier on his temporary suspension, Mahumapelo had said he has written to the party’s national disciplinary committee of appeal to set it aside.
“We are fighting that suspension. The suspension is meant to threaten us, to make us afraid. It is meant to suppress us and to damage our political reputation and standing in the eyes of the people.
“How can you suspend a person for going to a meeting, for talking? None of the people in the hall complained. The person who complained is someone who was not in the meeting,” he said.
At the weekend, Mahumapelo called on the party to suspend the application of its “step aside” resolution until its next national conference.
“My own view is that parts of that resolution which are in conflict with the law must be suspended until we go to the next national conference,” he said on Sunday in addressing ANC branches in Delareyville, North West.
Mahumapelo called on the branches to write to the national executive committee (NEC) to say some aspects of the resolution are in conflict with the law. He said to address the problem, those aspects should be sorted at the party's next national conference in December 2022.
He said the national conference, and not the NEC, was the only structure that can address the issue.
Political Bureau