Barely a month after an attempted murder charge against him was withdrawn, troubled Nelson Mandela Bay ANC councillor Lunga Nombexeza has been slapped with four counts of misconduct.
The Kariega ward 50 councillor allegedly accused his political bosses of corruption and fraud on social media, paving the way for him to be dragged before an ANC disciplinary committee.
Nombexeza, who the Bay ANC regional task team (RTT) wanted to step aside when he was facing the attempted murder charge, accused RTT co-ordinator Luyolo Nqakula and RTT convener Nceba Faku of Covid-19 money corruption in a series of Facebook posts.
He survived the calls for him to step aside when the criminal charges were withdrawn, even though he had indicated he would not heed the call.
In the charge sheet, which The Herald has seen, Nombexeza was expected to appear before the ANC provincial disciplinary committee on Monday.
But when contacted for comment, Nombexeza said he was not aware of the disciplinary action against him — while ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi declined to comment, saying the matter was continuing.
The charge sheet said Nombexeza had violated the ANC constitution by accusing Nqakula and Faku of corruption on social media.
Nombexeza has been charged with claiming Nqakula had bribed three DA councillors with R100,000 each, asking where he got the money from.
In another Facebook post, according to the charge sheet, Nombexeza wrote: “I will step aside only when the RTT co-ordinator and convener resigns [sic] for stealing Covid-19 money.”
He also wrote: “Who sold our land kwamandiya [sic] nge cheap price?
“Who sold our municipal buildings to amandiya that today esi renta kuzo kodwa bizezethu? Ayo Jirafu [Who sold our land to Indian people with a cheap price? Who sold our municipal buildings to Indian people that we are renting from them today even though they were ours before? Is it not the giraffe].”
Because of his tall stature, Faku is known as “Giraffe”.
According to the charge sheet, Nombexeza also wrote: “I am reminded that the RTT convener has sold the R5 costing surgical musk [sic], he unilaterally decided to charge the municipality R95 for each surgical musk.”
The Herald reported in July that Faku’s company, Amat, supplied the municipality with face masks at a higher price than was recommended by national Treasury.
It supplied 8,500 N99 face masks at a combined price of R743,750.
The Treasury’s PPE price chart lists an N95 or FFP2 mask or one of higher standards and gives a cap of R37,80 a unit.
Amat charged the municipality R87.50 a unit.
His company also charged R374,325 for 15,000 face masks, at a cost of R24.15 a unit, and then R21 each for 500 of the masks.
Nombexeza said he was not aware of the case against him.
“Am I charged? When? Qlyv [slang for ndiyaqala uyiva, meaning it’s the first time I’m hearing of it].
“I am not aware of charges against me at all.
“I have no business with that.
“I am currently busy with the work of the SACP as my first political home.”
Faku, who previously declined to comment on the face masks price saga, said on Tuesday he would not comment on the matter.
Nqakula said: “He who alleges has the responsibility of producing proof.”
Ngcukayitobi would only say: “We don’t give running commentary on cases under way.
“My great apologies, l am not commenting.”
While Ngcukayitobi would not comment on the Nombexeza case, he released a statement on Monday, saying the party would crack down on ill-disciplined members who violated the ANC’s social media policy, communications protocols, code of conduct and party constitution.
He said the party had held communications workshops with regional leaders which would also be taken to branches.
“The ANC Eastern Cape will from now on take decisive action against anyone who breaches the communications protocols.
“Furthermore, the ANC will institute disciplinary processes against the instigators of disunity within the organisation without delay.”
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