The Herald (South Africa)

Battle lines drawn again in Sanco provincial executive

- Simthandil­e Ford

JUST a few weeks after SA National Civic Organisati­on president Richard Mdakana and five other office bearers descended upon the Eastern Cape to call for unity within Sanco, the provincial executive committee members are back at each other’s throats.

On Friday, Sanco provincial chairman Zukile Luyenge wrote a letter of suspension to provincial secretary Tony Duba.

In what was seen as retaliatio­n, Duba penned his own letter to Sanco deputy chairman Dan Bolman, suspending him.

Mdakana said yesterday the PEC members should refrain from firing each other and focus on November’s congress.

“The Eastern Cape has been divided for 22 years, there has to come a time that comes to a stop,” Mdakana said.

“When we came to the Eastern Cape, we called for unity and to ask the PEC members to work together.”

Duba said yesterday he had seen the letter written to him by the provincial chairman, but he refused to recognise it.

His letter of suspension was written without following correct procedure, Duba said.

“You cannot go to your corner and decide to suspend someone. I have contacted the secretary-general,” he said.

Duba, who is also an ANC whip in the Eastern Cape legislatur­e, has been accused of embezzling close to R250 000 from Sanco.

Duba also stands to be elected as the ANC’s Nelson Mandela Bay regional chair.

Luyenge said disciplina­ry processes against Duba were going ahead.

“Duba and his cronies are hell-bent on disrupting the preparatio­ns for an inclusive congress,” Luyenge said.

“He goes around denouncing officials that were elected at the same conference.

“Whether Duba recognises the suspension or not, the disciplina­ry process of Sanco is in progress as we speak.”

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TONY DUBA

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