EXCLUSIVE: Malema suspends Mpumalanga secretary

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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have this week brought a charge of misconduct against the provincial secretary of the party in Mpumalanga and have suspended him from all party duties.

The party’s Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema formally charged Alfred Skhosana this week, summoning him to appear before the partys national disciplinary committee in two weeks’ time.

Malema summons Skhosana to the party’s headquarters in Braamfontein, Gauteng in order to answer why from 15 June to 30 August 2016 he failed to pay the 15% party levy to national treasurer Magdalene Moonsamy and according to the charge sheet, that 013NEWS has seen and which was sent to him on Monday morning and signed by national prosecutor Linda Mabengwane, Skhosana is charged with violating partyrules and regulations, including “undermining and disobeying decisions of higher structures and officials”.

Alfred Skhosana taking his oath of office. FILE PICTURE BY  Mpumalanga News
Alfred Skhosana taking his oath of office. FILE PICTURE BY Mpumalanga News

 

The charge sheet reads: “Please take note that the above stated disciplinary hearing will be heard on 12 September 2016 at 2nd floor, Minerella Building, 78 De Korte street at 10: 00 am or as soon as the matter may be heard”.

It states: “You on or about 15 June 2016 have directly or indirectly and tacitly defied an instruction from the organisation that you pay the party levy, which could amount to the contravention of your membership declaration”.

The charge sheet further demands that Skhosana indicates in writing whether he is guilty or not and that he should make a complete and detailed statement to chairman of the national disciplinary committee, Adv Dali Mpofu, with his version of the incident and any facts that he wishes to be taken into consideration by the disciplinary committee.

Skhosana is a member of the EFF in the Mpumalanga legislature and according to internal EFF rules, all members serving the party in Parliament and legislatures are bound to pay 15% of their monthly salary to national treasurer Moonsamy. The same rule is applied at 50% to the party’s newly elected councillors across the country.

But earlier, a source in the party’s provincial command team told an 013NEWS reporter that Skhosana has actually been suspended by the party at a meeting held on 28 August, pending the disciplinary hearing and his duties have been taken over by provincial deputy secretary, Ntsako Mkhabela.

“He has been summarily suspended by the provincial commandteam during a special sitting on Sunday for not paying the party levy for several months and the amount owed is in the region of about R50 000. He is waiting for the date of disciplinary hearing as we speak,” the source said on Tuesday afternoon.

Another party document seen by 013NEWS confirms the resolution taken by the partys provincial command team to suspend Skhosana with immediate effect pending a disciplinary hearing.

But last night the spokesman and chairman of the party in the province, Collen Sedibe, said those who say Skhosana was suspended “maybe were confusing the notification letters issued to all councillors to pay the party levy by tomorrow”.

“All over the country, not just in Mpumalanga. They have just been given letters, until Wednesday to pay, not suspended. It’s not true he misappropriated funds, how can he misappropriate funds because funds are managed nationally?” Sedibe asked.

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Sedibe denied that Skhosana had been formally charged with violating party rules on the monthly levy, Sedibe said: “I didn’t see that. I will have to enquire about it. I only know of letters sent out to newly elected councillors across the country and the due dates of payment and intentions to suspend them if they don’t pay the party levy.

EFF secretary general, Godrich Gardee, this week issued correspondence to all provinces singling out the individual councillors whose debit orders had bounced for the 50% party levy that has been imposed on all new councillors who assumed office after the 3 August election.

Councillors have received their salaries but our debit order system did not find sufficient funds amounting to the 50% party levyYou are requested to inform them that if the money is not deposited by 12 noon (2nd September 2016)..they are deemed to have expelled themselves from the Council and organisational Disciplinary Processes will follow together with list replacement no later than 3pm Friday, the letter read.

(edited by ZK)

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