Staff Reporter
The ANC in the Free State has suspended its chief whip in the provincial Legislature, Vusi Tshabalala, following accusations that he was working with independent candidates for the forthcoming local government elections.
A statement issued by Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) spokesperson Oupa Khoabane said Tshabalala will not be allowed to conduct any party activities until the matter is finalised.
“The ANC Free State has resolved to suspend . . . Vusi Tshabalala as a member of the ANC with immediate effect,” read part of the statement.
“This affects his participation in all the activities of the ANC.
“The suspension emanates from an allegation of his support to independent candidates for the coming local government elections.”
Tshabalala is widely believed to be a close ally of suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule.
Last week, another Magashule ally, Sam Mashinini, was fired as the MEC for Police, Roads and Transport following a provincial cabinet reshuffle.
Thabo Meeko, a member of the IPC, will act as the chief whip of the party until the disciplinary process is finalised.
Ironically, when Tshabalala was kicked out as the executive mayor of Maluti-a-Phofung in 2018 following a vote of no confidence, he claimed at the time that some ANC members had voted with the opposition DA for his ouster.
In same year, the municipality was placed under administration following repeated calls by the opposition to rein in the alleged financial bleeding and maladministration which they said had brought the local authority “to its knees”.
In August 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Special Investigating Unit to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration and the awarding of tenders at the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.