The party is expected to soon announce whether it will suspend two of its legally embattled mayors through the policy, which was adopted at a 2017 Nasrec national conference.

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The ANC’s lower structure in Lejweleputswa has since furnished the upper structure of the IPC with a full report on the arrests of the Masilonyana and Tswelopele mayors, indicted on various charges.

The Lejweleputswa ANC’s Regional Interim Committee (RIC) spokesperson, Tsekiso Majake, tells OFM News that a report about the two legally embattled mayors has been given to the IPC and the matter is receiving attention. Majake says once the matter is concluded the organisation will formally communicate its outcomes. The two mayors - Dimakatso Modise from Masilonyana and Kenalemang Phukuntsi from Tswelopele are charged with inciting violence, as well as crimen injuria and theft respectively.

If the ANC rules that the two should step aside due to the charges, they will be amongst the first group of ANC officials to be suspended from their positions following the 2021 Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) elections.

Modise was arrested this month for incitement of violence - which took place in Theunissen in 2021 when the community went on the rampage. OFM News at the time reported that the home of then-mayor, Kunatu Stephen Koalane’s parents was set alight amidst the violent unrest.

Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, previously said in a statement that “…on 2 February 2022 Phukuntsi apparently visited several foreign owned and claimed that they were selling expired groceries.

“It is alleged that she took items including cosmetics, vegetables, other groceries, as well as diapers, and cleaners from their shops. These items were estimated to be worth R60 000. Both Modise and Phukuntsi were granted R2000. 

OFM News