THE African National Congress (ANC) in KZN has sent their councillor packing for good.
Councillor Sibonelo Maphumulo, who served as Umzumbe Local Municipality speaker and a Ward 11 councillor, was expelled from the party following months of suspension.
Maphumulo’s membership was first suspended when ANC members marched to the party’s provincial headquarters in August to complain about his misconduct in Umzumbe Municipality.
On Wednesday, 13 December, the ANC Provincial Secretary Bheki Mtolo announced that the party had decided to expel Maphumulo from the party with immediate effect.
“You will recall that on 22 August we announced the suspension of membership of Maphumulo. This is after the PEC had received a report on his alleged conduct which was interpreted as in defiance of the ANC decision, especially in ANC council meetings,” said Mtolo.
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He said Maphumulo was then subjected to a fair disciplinary process.
Mtolo added that based on the evidence presented by witnesses during the disciplinary hearing, Maphumulo was found guilty of all the charges.
The charges he faced include acting in breach of the membership oath, failing, refusing or neglecting to execute or comply with any ANC policy, standing order, undermining the respect for or impeding the functioning of any structure or committee of the ANC and many other charges.
He said Maphumulo was given a chance to defend himself and state his story.
The party decided to terminate his membership and expel him from the party.
“The following step would be to inform the independent Electoral Commission that Maphumulo having ceased to be a member of the ANC can no longer occupy the seat of the ANC in Umzumbe Municipality and therefore a vacancy would be declared. Since Maphumulo was a ward councillor the ANC will deploy a councillor who will serve the people of ward 11 while we are preparing for the by-elections,” said Mtolo.
Contacting the Umzumbe communication office, Sabelo Ncwane said: “All matters of deployment must be directed to the ANC provincial office.”
Expelled Sibonelo asked not to comment on the matter until Thursday, 14 December, when he will decide what to do about the matter.
