The Mangaung Metro Municipality MMC for Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Performance in Free State, Sibongile Tsoleli, is in deep trouble as her political party, the ANC, is gearing up to haul her before the regional disciplinary committee.
Tsoleli, 53, who was an MP nationally and the MPL in the Free State, was suspended by the ANC for insulting and using hate speech and unleashing racism towards the former Speaker of Mangaung municipality Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo and her husband, Denver Naidoo.
Accusations of slander
Tsoleli did not end there, as she also accused Lockman-Naidoo of having sexual relationships with the ANC politicians, Paseka Nompondo and Patrick Manyakoane, who are political heavyweights in the province.
On Monday, the ANC in the Mangaung region sent Tsoleli a letter to notify her of the imminent disciplinary hearing, citing that the reason for the matter was based on accusations of misconduct against her.
In the letter written by the Mangaung regional secretary, Sabelo Pitso, he told Tsoleli who is also a member of the ANC regional executive committee (REC), that a notice of accusation of misconduct had been brought to the attention of the regional disciplinary committee in terms of the ANC rules.
This comes after the Equality Court in Bloemfontein handed down judgment against Tsoleli for hate speech and discrimination.
Equality Court judgment
The judgment was handed down on June 5 by magistrate Richard Lawrence. In it he ordered Tsoleli to also pay Lockman-Naidoo R50, 000 within 30 days after the order was issued.
To add salt to the wound, Lawrence ordered Tsoleli to attend the South African race sensitisation programme. The programme is approved by the South African Human Rights Commission, and Tsoleli is to attend it within three months of the order date. She is also instructed to pay for the programme from her own pocket.
After the judgment, Pitso told Tsoleli that the referral was submitted for sanctioning purposes consistent with the court outcomes so to give effect to the judgement.
“It is further brought to the attention of the Regional Disciplinary Committee (RDC) that the promptness in commencing with the matter once a decision is taken based on the reasons submitted, shall serve to relieve both parties from prejudices of delays since such matters must be resolved expeditiously, fairly and justifiably
Breach of membership oath
Tsoleli is accused by the ANC of acting in breach of the membership oath. She’s also accused of failing to execute or comply with any ANC order, behaving in a manner or making any utterance which brings or could bring or has the potential to bring or as a consequence thereof brings the ANC into disrepute. In addition she is accused of sowing racism, sexism, tribal chauvinism, religious and political intolerance, regionalism or any other form of discrimination. This while she holds the public office under the ticket of the ruling party. And also while being an esteemed REC executive with the organisation.
The ANC also accuses Tsoleli on behaving in a manner that provokes or is likely to provoke or has the potential to provoke division or impact negatively on the unity of the ANC.
Pitso said that in or about 2021/22, Tsoleli posted in one of the WhatsApp groups derogatory comments against Lockman-Naidoo.
“In her assertion, a claim is made that Cde Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo introduced persons of Indian origin in Mangaung when prior to thather marriage to with husband who is of Indian origins there where (sic) no Indians in Mangaung. She went further to allege that Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo engaged in a promiscuous conduct with some leaders in the ANC, thereby mentioning names.
Attacks on WhatsApp group
“Consequently, Cde Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo, aggrieved by these social media attacks for Cde Sibongile Tsoleli, humbly requested that she retrieve her comments of which such appeal was met with outright rejection. It is later in time that the aggrieved party approached the Equality Court seeking recourse against disparaging remarks levelled against her. The matter was set-down before Magistrate RJ Lawrence who, after hearing parties case came to a decision that indeed Cde Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo had a valid case and presented a (sic) compelling evidence which was no match of any dispute by the accused in this matter, Cde Sibongile Tsoleli,” said Pitso.
Pitso stated that the judgement delivered on June 5 with the order against Tsoleli clearly demonstrated the extend of gravity with which the conduct of the MMC came under scrutiny. Moreover, the racial remarks and promotion of disunity amongst the membership of the ANC.
“It is against this background that the ANC as an organisation with rules and policies to be followed by its members, has to protect itself against any image-damaging actions by any of its members so that it remains a party of reverence and genuine appeal to the broader sections of our society having fought against racial oppression in this country. Pursuant to the above, the said member is suspended with immediate effect pending the disciplinary process,” said Pitso.
Explanation disputed
In her failed attempt to escape from the frying pan, Tsoleli tried to shift the blame in her explanation at the Equality Court. She claimed that she was forwarded a message by another MMC, Theodora Mosala so that she can post it on the ANC Women’s Coordinators Group (WGC).
Top Free State government official, Claudia Mosoeu, who created WGC WhatsApp group in 2021, threw Tsoleli under the bus during her testimony at the Equality Court. She cited that Tsoleli should be taught a serious lesson for her actions as she refused to be held accountable for what she said.
Lockman-Naidoo said: “The suspension shows the commitment of the ANC to renew itself and unite all groups of people in society by removing divisive and racist leaders like the respondent in this case. I welcome the ANC’s intervention and believe it will serve as a lesson and deterrent to anyone else.”
When contacted by Sunday World over the matter, Tsoleli said she was not going to comment. She referred us to her lawyers, Seobe Attorneys, to respond on her behalf.
At the time of going to print, Tsoleli’s lawyers had not responded to questions sent to them.
Mosala did not respond to our request for comment.
