THE ANC in the Free State is calling for Social Development MEC Motshidise Koloi to step aside.
This after she and two other people appeared in the Kroonstad Magistrates Court on Friday, 13 October.
They face charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act, among other charges. This relates to the hiring of a sound system when she was mayor of the Moqhaka Municipality in 2017.
ANC provincial secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng, said the party respected the legal principle that any accused person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
However, Motsoeneng said they were of the view that these were serious charges that had the potential to taint the image of the party.
"ANC has adopted a document that outlines guidelines on how and in what circumstances members should ‘step aside’ from party activities. These guidelines state that members indicted in a court of law can't stand for election in any leadership position in the party," he said.
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"The guidelines further assert that those charged in a court of law can't hold government positions as ministers, deputy ministers, MECs or MMCs, among others," said Motsoeneng.
He said in terms of these guidelines, ANC members who were facing allegations or charges of corruption or other serious charges had to present themselves to the Integrity Commission.
Motsoeneng said the party was expecting Koloi to step aside to allow the legal processes to continue without any hindrance.
"We must state that stepping aside does not equate to admission of guilt but is a necessary and conscious act by any member of the ANC who respects the decisions and image of the ANC," he said.
Koloi's accused of allegedly colluding with her co-accused to take R150 000 belonging to the Free State municipality under the guise that the money would be spent on a sound system to be used during a Nelson Mandela memorial lecture.
Haws spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli said the event never took place despite money having been transacted out of the municipal bank account.
