The legislature office says rumours on social media that Lukhele is dismissed are not true.
The ANC chief whip’s office in the Mpumalanga legislature has suspended its murder accused employee, Philemon Lukhele without a pay.
Lukhele is a research officer in chief whip Fidel Mlombo’s office.
Mlombo says they will wait for Lukhele to return, then haul him into a disciplinary hearing where a decision whether to dismiss him or not will be taken.
This follows his arrest for 28-year-old Hilary Gardee’s murder. Lukhele is arrested with two other men – Sipho Mkhatshwa and Mduzuzi Gama – and they are charged with murder, rape, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and possession of illegal firearm.
They are currently behind bars and will wait until 9 June 2022 when they appear again at the Nelspruit Magistrates Court for a possible bail application after abandoning their right to get bail during their first appearance on 9 May.
Mlombo said as the ANC in the legislature they note the “seriousness” of the charges against Lukhele and “in line with the Code of Conduct a resolution to suspend to Lukhele has been taken”.
He is suspended without pay until the conclusion of an internal investigation, Mlombo said.
Wednesday this week the University of Mpumalanga announced they are cutting ties with Lukhele who was accredited for an accomodation contract with them, pending the high-profile murder case.
Lukhele owns the Insika Guest House and Student Accommodation, which has three properties across Mbombela and the University has advised students to vacate all of Lukhele’s properties as they will no longer pay Lukhele for their stay at his facilities.
“The University takes these developments very seriously and has, in keeping with its Value of Integrity and for the safety and wellbeing of our students, no other option but to cancel the accreditation of the three (3) Insika Guest House student accommodation facilities with immediate effect,” it said in a statement.
Pudemo has also taken a decision to suspend Lukhele. He is a senior member for the eSwatini’s biggest opposition party and was exiled in South Africa for pro-democracy struggles.
Also Mkhatshwa’s family has “disowned” him, saying the behaviour of their son has been shocking of late.
“Mkhatshwa was also served with a protection order at the request of the Mkhatshwa family for his violent behaviour towards occupants of the Mkhatshwa residence in Driekoppies, including house breaking. There has been prior interventions by traditional leaders, with no success,” family spokesman Siya Nkosi said.
(edited by MLM)
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