ANC Mpumalanga says had no choice but to suspend treasurer Mandla Msibi
Msibi, who was voted as treasurer in absentia in 2022 while facing murder charges, has now been suspended for three years, after he and two others allegedly tried to sabotage the ANC's January birthday celebrations in the province.
Suspended Mpumalanga provincial treasurer Mandla Msibi. Picture: mpumalanga.gov.za
JOHANNESBURG - Despite the threat facing the African National Congress (ANC) as it approaches its most difficult elections since the dawn of democracy, the party in Mpumalanga says it had no choice but to suspend its provincial treasurer Mandla Msibi.
Msibi, who was voted as treasurer in absentia in 2022 while facing murder charges, has now been suspended for three years.
While he was cleared of the murder allegations earlier this year, resulting in a spectacular comeback, he rubbed his party the wrong way when he and two others allegedly tried to sabotage its January birthday celebrations in Mpumalanga.
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The trio consisting of Msibi, his chief of staff Sibusiso Mdluli, who has been expelled with immediate effect after being found guilty of threatening party members on social media, and Mandla Mahlanga, were suspended and appeared before a disciplinary committee following the sabotage allegations.
They are also said to have staged protests around Pienaar, demanding an audience with the party’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Two of the three years have been suspended, provided Msibi was not found guilty of a similar transgression during this period.
HIGHWAY TO MAY POLLS
Msibi’s suspension comes as the ANC and other parties are ramping up campaigns ahead of a massive showdown at the polls.
The ANC does this while facing possibly its worst elections yet.
Provincial spokesperson Sasakane Manzini fobbed off concerns of how this would impact the party, especially in light of a growing competitor in the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party, which is backed by the ANC’s Former President Jacob Zuma.
She said the ANC had a clear programme.
"We are focusing on that, making sure how far have we delivered on our manifesto, and also what are we going to do in the next five years, that’s what we are focusing on, not focusing on many political parties; there are many.
“Remember, the ANC is in its renewal process, and if any person, any member of the ANC, if we believe there is a case that he or she needs to answer to, we must institute a disciplinary process as per rule 25 - that on its own will present an opportunity for that member to argue their case.”