ActionSA suspends Tshwane ward candidate Malesela Teffo after arrest - IOL
ActionSA has suspended Tshwane ward candidate Malesela Teffo after his arrest over a contempt-of-court matter, with the party saying an internal disciplinary process against him was already under way.
ActionSA Gauteng has placed Tshwane ward candidate Malesela Teffo on precautionary suspension following his arrest, as an internal disciplinary process against him continues.
ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni said the disciplinary process was already under way before Teffo’s arrest on September 15.
The disciplinary process follows concerns about Teffo’s conduct after he appeared at the Johannesburg High Court wearing ActionSA regalia.
ActionSA’s Tshwane structures subsequently asked Teffo to account for what had happened, after which the matter was referred to the party’s Provincial Ethics and Disciplinary Officer (PEDO).
Ngobeni said PEDO had found a basis for the disciplinary process to continue.
“After considering the matter, PEDO found that there was a prima facie basis for the disciplinary process to continue,” he said.
Ngobeni said Teffo’s arrest this week was then considered by the ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), which received advice from PEDO before deciding to suspend him.
Ngobeni stressed that the suspension did not amount to a finding of guilt.
“We want to be clear about what this means. The suspension is not a finding of guilt. Mr Teffo will have an opportunity to respond to the matters before PEDO, and the process must be allowed to run fairly,” he said.
While suspended, Teffo is prohibited from participating in ActionSA campaign or party activities, representing or speaking on behalf of the party, or presenting himself as acting for the party.
Teffo is an ActionSA ward candidate in Tshwane for the November 4 local government elections.
Ngobeni said the suspension relates to Teffo’s participation and status within the party while the disciplinary process is under way.
PEDO has been instructed to deal with the matter urgently and report back to the PEC.
Ngobeni said the party expected its candidates and public representatives to account when questions were raised about their conduct, while cautioning against determining the outcome through public commentary.
“ActionSA expects its candidates and public representatives to account when serious questions are raised about their conduct. At the same time, we will not replace a proper disciplinary process with a trial through the media,” he said.
“We will communicate further once the disciplinary process has reached the appropriate stage.”
