In a formal letter dated Tuesday (16/9), ANC Free State Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng informed Dimakatso Modise of her immediate suspension from the party, pending disciplinary processes. This follows Modise’s alleged refusal to step down after the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) decided to redeploy her due to ongoing governance failures in the municipality.

“The ANC Provincial Executive Committee took a decision to redeploy you and delegated the Provincial Working Committee (PWC) to finalise the matter. The PEC had a one-on-one engagement with you on the decision and for you to tender your resignation within 48 hours.” 

However, instead of complying, Modise is said to have directed a response to the party's Provincial Secretary’s Office, contradicting the directive she received.

‘Summarily suspend your membership’

“Subsequently, the PWC discussed your letter, in which its view was tantamount to defiance in line with Rule 5.2.7 of the ANC Constitution. The PWC, as empowered by Rule 25.60, has decided to summarily suspend your membership pending the outcome of disciplinary processes to be instituted against you,” said Motsoeneng.

He instructed Modise must only attend council caucus and council sittings under the direction of the provincial and regional secretaries until the disciplinary process is concluded. It remains unclear how many mayors have been suspended, 

However, the other letter informs the ANC regional secretary of Lejweleputswa PWC had also decided to suspend mayor Veronica Ntakumbana, who also refused to resign. It's also understood the mayor of Moqhaka, Toy Mokatsane has also been served with a suspension letter.

OFM News previously reported the Free State ANC leadership had instructed members of the municipal Troika, including mayors, speakers, and chief whips from ailing municipalities, to step down. These include Mafube, Moqhaka, Letsemeng, Nketoana, Nala, and the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.

Some officials have since pushed back against these instructions, escalating their grievances to the ANC’s national leadership and questioning the legitimacy of the provincial decisions. Among the most defiant are the mayors of Mafube and Masilonyana, both of whom have refused to resign.

Modise has been at the centre of multiple scandals. Most recently, she was accused of misleading Parliament about a controversial trip to KwaZulu-Natal, which she allegedly undertook using a state vehicle and credit card under questionable circumstances.

The trip raised red flags, especially after Free State MEC for Cogta and human settlements, Saki Mokwena, confirmed provincial authorities had attempted to locate her during the time she was reportedly in Durban. 

During the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) hearing, Members of Parliament criticised Masilonyana officials for the dismal state of the municipality, highlighting only R100 had been allocated for water and sewerage infrastructure in the 2022/2023 financial year.

The municipality has also been embroiled in legal disputes. A significant case involved former municipal employee Itumeleng Mogaesho, who claimed his suspension was politically motivated and a result of Modise’s interference in administrative processes. 

The matter ended with Masilonyana Municipality being ordered to pay substantial damages following Mogaesho’s resignation.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg