The MK party has threatened to take action against its provincial leader in the Eastern Cape over viral letters suspending two of the party’s leaders.
The circulating letters, allegedly written and signed by convener Pumlani Kubukeli, dated July 8, suspended party members Luleka Simon-Ndzele and Nozizwe Otola from the party effective immediately.
But the two said they had not received such letters.
According to the letters, Simon-Ndzele and Otola, who both joined the party in February, were unceremoniously placed on precautionary suspension pending investigations.
The Dispatch has seen the suspension letters which cite various alleged acts of ill-discipline as reasons for their suspension.
But national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela said on Wednesday that he had no confirmation of whether the suspensions were sanctioned by the party.
“From where I’m sitting it doesn’t sound true. At national I’m not aware of any discussion or decision that was taken at that level.
“I don’t know about the letter because normally a letter like that must also be endorsed by the SG [secretary-general],” Ndlela said.
Ndlela said there would be consequences for anyone found circulating the letters within the organisation.
Kubukeli could not be reached for comment.
Asked what would happen if Kubukeli wrote the letters, Ndlela said: “We will deal with it internally, including possible expulsion, but we will deal with that decisively.”
The letter addressed to Simon-Ndzele, a former Buffalo City Metro council speaker, accuses her of “undermining of upper structures and their authority, thereby causing paralysis to the functioning of the organisation”.
Simon-Ndzele, who was announced as the party’s provincial elections co-ordinator in February, is also accused of factionalism and parallelism, thus the suspension of her membership with immediate effect pending finalisation of the investigations.
Otola is accused of “intentionally participating in acts of factionalism and parallelism to legitimate structures of the organisation”.
It is further alleged that Otola, also a former BCM ANC councillor and named as the BCM regional convener in February, intentionally issued statements through voice notes and other social media “thus effectively paralysing the organisation and causing divisions within Party ranks”.
Otola is said to have “intentionally participated in acts of factionalism and parallelism to legitimate structures of the organisation”.
Otola is also said to be “insisting on aligning yourself with an organisation that has no relationship with the MK party”.
During the suspension period, neither may participate in the activities of any party structures.
They are not allowed to issue any statements to the media and/or social media purportedly on behalf of the party, especially in relation to their suspension.
They were ordered to surrender all material belonging to the party.
“Please note that you are more than welcome to make representations to this office directly should you feel that you have enough reasons for your suspension to be lifted and/or evidence that might assist the investigation,” their suspension letter says.
Simon-Ndzele said: “I will remain silent until I formally receive the letter ...
“The allegations are unlike me. To me this is an insult. [There’s not] even a meeting where I was invited and told about this.”
Otola said: “In fact I didn’t receive a letter but I saw it going viral on social media. I regard that as fake news. Anyone can write those letters.”
Both referred questions to provincial co-ordinator Mawande Ndakisa. Ndakisa claimed the letters were authentic.
“The disciplinary processes are outlined in Rule 20 to 25 of our constitution,” Ndakisa said.
“So anyone in the province who has got anyone suspended is acting against the constitution itself and the character of the organisation.
“We deem that as being disruptive, and worse, at the centre of these processes are CR17 individuals.
“I’m a secretary of this province. No meeting has sat to consider any report regarding anyone’s behaviour.
“I’m the one who co-ordinates political activities in this province.
“Even if whoever is going to be suspended, I should have called the people to that meeting and that meeting could have not been at any level other than the provincial task team (PTT).
“The PTT has had no report of anyone [committing] any maladministration or irregularities, any disruptions or whatsoever.
“That tells you that once a chairman writes a letter, then that chairman is malicious or doesn’t know how any organisation functions.
“That is the responsibility entrusted to the secretariat.
“No-one has been suspended in this province and no-one will be suspended unless there’s gross violation of the constitution, and even then there’s a process [to be followed].”
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