Zuma: ANC man suspended

2007-06-07 21:35

Durban - An African National Congress party member who was investigated for allegedly saying "our country will never be ruled by a rapist and a fraudster" has been suspended by the party apparently for not campaigning during last year's local government election.

A statement released by the ANC representative for Groutville on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, Siyanda Mhlongo, said investigations had been undertaken following an incident last year in which President Thabo Mbeki was heckled at a reburial ceremony for Moses Mabhida.

Mhlongho said he was charged for violating five rules of the ANC constitution.

"Among the charges against me was that I allegedly insulted our ANC deputy president, Jacob Zuma, by saying 'our country will never be ruled by a rapist and a fraudster.'

"However the verdict was conspicuously silent on four main charges laid against me, including that of insulting our deputy president.

"I was found guilty only on a charge that I did not campaign for an ANC ward 10 (Groutville) candidate in the March 2006 local government elections."

Mhlongo said he would appeal the decision because he felt he had been "tried in absentia".

The ANC's KwaZulu-Natal secretary general, Senzo Mchunu, confirmed that Mhlongo had been suspended but said that Mhlongo could appeal his sentence - a one year suspension.

- SAPA