Suspended Presidency spokeswoman challenges sanction

APPEAL: COMMITTEE FINDINGS ‘IRRATIONAL AND WILL SET A DEVASTATING PRECEDENT’

Directive to disclose spouse’s business interests irks official.

Suspended Presidency spokeswoman Khusela Diko has announced her intention to appeal the findings of the ANC’s provincial disciplinary committee in Gauteng, which found her guilty of bringing the governing party into disrepute.

In a statement released yesterday by her lawyers, Avela Nontso Attorneys, Diko said she wrote to the committee informing it of her decision to challenge its findings.

She believes the committee’s findings are “wholly irrational and if left unchallenged, will set a devastating precedent with rules that do not currently exist which include a directive to disclose a spouse’s business interests to the office bearers of the ANC”.

Diko and former Gauteng health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku were embroiled in a Covid-19 personal protective equipment scandal last year, after the provincial health department awarded a multimillion-rand tender to Royal Bhaca, a company owned by Diko’s late husband, Thandisizwe Diko.

The pair have been asked to step aside from all party positions and to not speak on behalf of the ANC until the Special Investigating Unit’s probe has been concluded into the matter.

The decision was reportedly accepted by the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) at its meeting over the weekend.

Masuku has already indicated he will appeal the disciplinary committee’s ruling.

At the same time, Diko has taken exception to comments made by ANC provincial secretary Jacob Khawe to the media regarding internal ANC processes that are still under way.

Khawe has been quoted as saying the decision of the committee was accepted by the PEC at its weekend meeting. He also said he was not aware of Diko’s appeal of the committee’s findings.

Diko said the comments attributed to Khawe were regrettable.

“At best, they are blatantly dishonest and nowhere near cogent,” her lawyers said. “Further, it is our client’s assertion that there is no decision that has been taken by the provincial executive committee to accept and implement the findings of the committee, particularly in light of the fact that our client has elected to exercise her right to appeal.”

Diko has been on suspension since the scandal and was charged by the Presidency for failing to disclose her financial interests.