The ANC in the Free State is battling to force Tswelopele mayor Kenalemang Phukuntsi out of office after she continued reporting for duty despite being suspended by the party and facing criminal charges that triggered its step-aside rule.
Phukuntsi, who is also an ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member, was suspended from the party on June 4, pending disciplinary proceedings over misconduct allegations linked to assault and crimen injuria charges.
But party insiders said she reported for duty last week.
The ANC’s step-aside rule requires members who face criminal charges to voluntarily step aside from party and public responsibilities and present themselves before the party’s ethics structures to explain their alleged conduct.
ANC Free State spokesperson Thabo Meeko said: “One of the things that we have to do if the comrade refuses to resign is to call a caucus of the ANC from that municipality and communicate the ANC decision and expect them to implement it. However, we are still within our time to allow her to deal with the issue of voluntarily stepping aside, failing which the organisation will have to issue another suspension letter.
“The fact that the court of law is involved [means] she must voluntarily step aside but failure to do so, the ANC will have to implement the step-aside.”
Sunday World reported last month that Phukuntsi had been arrested and charged with assault and crimen injuria after her former bodyguard and driver, Henry Mathebula, opened a criminal case against her at Midrand police station in Gauteng. The case has been transferred to Wesselsbron police station in the Free State.
Mathebula, who had been employed as Phukuntsi’s driver and bodyguard since 2024, previously told Sunday World that the alleged violence, intimidation and insults had caused him emotional distress.
In the suspension letter seen by Sunday World, ANC provincial deputy secretary Dibolelo Mance told Phukuntsi that the party had acted under Rule 25.56 of the ANC constitution. The rule allows the ANC national executive committee, national working committee, PEC or provincial working committee to suspend a member before disciplinary action is taken.
“It has come to our attention that there is a voice clip in which you can be heard using language unbecoming of the ANC public representative towards your driver, as well as an altercation,” Mance wrote. “The said voice clip was widely circulated on social media.”
Mance said ANC members, including public representatives deployed by the party, were expected to conduct themselves in a manner that did not bring the party into disrepute.
“Consequently, please be advised that you are suspended with immediate effect in your capacity as an ANC member pending the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings to be instituted against you,” Mance wrote.
But ANC insiders said Phukuntsi reported for duty from Monday. An insider said Phukuntsi told officials that she was behind with office work and would not be stopped from performing her mayoral duties.
“Kenalemang … said she was not going to be told what to do because she believed the charges against her were spurious,” said a source.
Another insider said officials were unsure whether the ANC had instructed its caucus to restrict her mayoral functions or remove her from office. “The ANC suspended her as a member but she is still coming to work as mayor. That is why the matter has now become bigger than just a disciplinary issue,” the insider said.
Meeko said the ANC was aware of the situation and would act if Phukuntsi failed to comply with the party’s step-aside rule.
Phukuntsi hung up the phone when called for comment and did not responded to questions sent via text message.
- The ANC in the Free State is battling to force Tswelopele mayor Kenalemang Phukuntsi out of office after she continued reporting for duty despite being suspended by the party and facing criminal charges that triggered its step-aside rule.
- Phukuntsi, who is also an ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member, was suspended from the party on June 4, pending disciplinary proceedings over misconduct allegations linked to assault and crimen injuria charges.
- But party insiders said she reported for duty last week.
- The ANC’s step-aside rule requires members who face criminal charges to voluntarily step aside from party and public responsibilities and present themselves before the party’s ethics structures to explain their alleged conduct.
- ANC Free State spokesperson Thabo Meeko said: “One of the things that we have to do if the comrade refuses to resign is to call a caucus of the ANC from that municipality and communicate the ANC decision and expect them to implement it.
Phukuntsi, who is also an ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member, was suspended from the party on June 4, pending disciplinary proceedings over misconduct allegations linked to assault and crimen injuria charges.
But party insiders said she reported for duty last week.
ANC Free State spokesperson
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In the suspension letter seen by
“It has come to our attention that there is a voice clip in which you can be heard using language unbecoming of the ANC public representative towards your driver, as well as an altercation,” Mance wrote. “
Mance said ANC members, including public representatives deployed by the party, were expected to conduct themselves in a manner that did not bring the party into disrepute.
“Consequently, please be advised that you are suspended with immediate effect in your capacity as an ANC member pending the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings to be instituted against you,” Mance wrote.
But ANC insiders said Phukuntsi reported for duty from
“
Meeko said the ANC was aware of the situation and would act if Phukuntsi failed to comply with the party’s step-aside rule.
Phukuntsi hung up the phone when called for comment and did not responded to questions sent via text message.
