Following her arrest in March 2022, Dimakatso Modise faces charges in a court of law of inciting violence. She was asked by the ANC's Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) to halt her duties both as the mayor and as a member of the Interim Regional Committee (IRC) with immediate effect. In leaked audio, Modise is heard informing her comrades that she was asked by the IPC to step aside through a zoom meeting. Her suspension from the party by the IPC comes a few weeks before the ANC in the province head to its Provincial Elective Conference to elect the new leadership.

However, contacted to confirm the step aside decision against Modise, the ANC IPC spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, relegated the right to comment to the lower structure in Lejweleputswa, which also declined to comment on the matter. Its spokesperson, Tsekiso Majake, told OFM News that a decision was taken but the lower structure is not able to communicate a decision taken by its higher structure.

Last month, ANC coordinator, Paseka Nompondo, said the ANC had planned to meet with Modise to discuss her future.

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In May this year, the ANC IPC formally requested that the ANC in Lejweleputswa draft a full report about the arrest of Modise.

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A few days after being asked for a full report, the IPC's lower structure then obliged the wishes of the higher structure and then furnished the IPC with a full report on the arrests of Modise.

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Modise was arrested earlier this year for incitement of violence in Theunissen in 2021 when the community went on the rampage. OFM News at the time reported that the home of then-mayor Kunatu Stephen Koalane’s parents was set alight amidst the violent unrest. Modise is out on R2000 bail.

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In leaked audio, Modise said "I was told to step aside as the mayor of Masilonyana and also as the deputy coordinator of the IRC. I must now focus on this case. And after this case, I will resume my work, so comrade, please, let us not let this matter derail us, let us not lose focus and hope. It's nearer to where we're heading".

OFM News