WELKOM – The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State has suspended Lejweleputswa District Municipality Executive Mayor Phindiwe Maseko from party membership, barely five weeks after her appointment, following allegations that she failed to comply with party directives regarding the composition of the municipality’s Mayoral Committee.

According to a suspension letter issued by the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), Maseko was suspended with immediate effect in terms of Rule 25.60 of the ANC Constitution, pending disciplinary proceedings.

The party alleges that after her appointment as Executive Mayor, Maseko received “clear directives” on how the Mayoral Committee should be constituted. The letter further states that she met with ANC PEC officials on more than two occasions to discuss the matter but allegedly failed to implement the directives or respond to formal correspondence from the party’s Provincial Secretary’s Office.

The ANC contends that her conduct constitutes a breach of the party’s constitution, specifically Rule 25.17.1, which relates to acting in breach of the ANC membership oath, and Rule 25.17.3, which concerns failing, refusing or neglecting to comply with ANC policies, rules, regulations or resolutions.

In the suspension notice, the party states that “justifiable exceptional circumstances” warranted an immediate suspension before obtaining Maseko’s response, as provided for under Rule 25.60 of the ANC Constitution.

The suspension means that Maseko is prohibited from exercising her rights as an ANC member while disciplinary proceedings are under way, except for participating in the disciplinary process and exercising any rights of appeal or review available to her.

Although the suspension relates to her ANC membership rather than her position as Executive Mayor, the party indicated that, as an ANC deployee, her continued participation in council affairs during the suspension would be regulated by the ANC Chief Whip.

The development has once again highlighted tensions surrounding internal party discipline and the ANC’s cadre deployment processes, which determine the placement of party members in strategic government positions.

At the time of publication, neither Maseko nor the Lejweleputswa District Municipality had publicly commented on the suspension or the allegations contained in the ANC’s letter.

The ANC has indicated that disciplinary proceedings against the mayor will follow in due course.

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