Suspended Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Bhisho legislature MPL Themba Wele is still earning his salary of more than R80000 a month despite sitting at home for the past seven months.
Wele was suspended by his party in February and later challenged the suspension in court, saying it was unprocedural.
The matter was supposed to have been heard on May 19 but when Wele’s legal representatives failed to attend the Bhisho High Court proceedings, his suspension challenge was thrown out of court.
Wele’s team was also ordered to pay all the costs related to the failed court application.
However, his legal team, which claimed to have been in court on May 19 but left before proceedings began after noting that the matter was not on the court roll, later appealed the judgment.
Their appeal was heard last week Monday and on Friday the high court rescinded its earlier decision to throw the challenge out.
It also rescinded the decision that Wele’s team pay for the failed May 19 proceedings.
This was confirmed yesterday by the EFF leader’s attorney Sva Nkomane, who said they were now preparing court papers to forge ahead with their challenge of the suspension.
Nkomane said the matter was back on the court roll and would be heard at a date yet to be communicated.
He refused to comment further.
Wele yesterday said he was “excited” that the matter was now back on the court roll.
He added he had only been suspended as party leader and not as a member of the provincial legislature, which he had not attended for the past six months due to ill health.
“I am still an EFF MPL and I am still earning my salary.
“However, I have not been to work for some time due to a medical leave given to me by my doctor for a liver condition I am currently receiving treatment for,” he said.
Wele said his only sin, which had led to his suspension, was to question the disappearance of EFF funds allocated to the party by the legislature.
“Some of the monies allocated to the party by the legislature have disappeared and others used for purposes I was not involved in despite me being the one who accounts to the legislature for such funds.
“I was suspended because I wanted the party to account on the use of such funds,” he said.
Attempts to get comment from EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee and spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were unsuccessful at the time of writing yesterday.
However, in a statement when Wele was suspended, Ndlozi said it was “for working independently from EFF caucus” and “undermining the efforts of EFF collective to inform his mandate”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Suspension appeal for Wele put on roll again
Wele was suspended by his party in February and later challenged the suspension in court, saying it was unprocedural.
The matter was supposed to have been heard on May 19 but when Wele’s legal representatives failed to attend the Bhisho High Court proceedings, his suspension challenge was thrown out of court.
Wele’s team was also ordered to pay all the costs related to the failed court application.
However, his legal team, which claimed to have been in court on May 19 but left before proceedings began after noting that the matter was not on the court roll, later appealed the judgment.
Their appeal was heard last week Monday and on Friday the high court rescinded its earlier decision to throw the challenge out.
It also rescinded the decision that Wele’s team pay for the failed May 19 proceedings.
This was confirmed yesterday by the EFF leader’s attorney Sva Nkomane, who said they were now preparing court papers to forge ahead with their challenge of the suspension.
Nkomane said the matter was back on the court roll and would be heard at a date yet to be communicated.
He refused to comment further.
Wele yesterday said he was “excited” that the matter was now back on the court roll.
He added he had only been suspended as party leader and not as a member of the provincial legislature, which he had not attended for the past six months due to ill health.
“I am still an EFF MPL and I am still earning my salary.
“However, I have not been to work for some time due to a medical leave given to me by my doctor for a liver condition I am currently receiving treatment for,” he said.
Wele said his only sin, which had led to his suspension, was to question the disappearance of EFF funds allocated to the party by the legislature.
“Some of the monies allocated to the party by the legislature have disappeared and others used for purposes I was not involved in despite me being the one who accounts to the legislature for such funds.
“I was suspended because I wanted the party to account on the use of such funds,” he said.
Attempts to get comment from EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee and spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were unsuccessful at the time of writing yesterday.
However, in a statement when Wele was suspended, Ndlozi said it was “for working independently from EFF caucus” and “undermining the efforts of EFF collective to inform his mandate”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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