ANC calls for Chris Hani Mayor to step aside amid criminal charges

Mayor of the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Lusanda Sizani.

The African National Congress (ANC) Integrity Commission has recommended that the mayor of the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, Lusanda Sizani, steps aside from both his government positions and party structures.

Sizani faces charges of the negligent handling of a firearm after his gun was allegedly stolen in East London in March last year.

The commission’s decision has dampened Sizani’s ambitions to contest for a position in the upcoming 10^th Provincial Elective Conference, which is set to be held next month.

ANC’s step aside rule mandates that members charged with serious crimes cannot contest for positions pending finalisation of the matter.

Sizani will be back in court on the 18^th of February for the possible start of his trial.

The party’s secretary in the province, Lulama Ngcukayitobi says, “As far as I know, the matter has been sent to him. He should have stepped aside as of yesterday from both positions of the mayor of Chris Hani District Municipality and regional chairperson of the ANC up until the matter has been fully ventilated in a court of law and the matter is resolved.”