ActionSA suspends Tshwane ward candidate Malesela Teffo after arrest

ActionSA Gauteng has placed Tshwane ward candidate Malesela Teffo on precautionary suspension while an internal disciplinary process continues, according to IOL.

Suspension follows arrest and ongoing party probe

According to IOL, the party suspended Teffo after his arrest over a contempt-of-court matter and after the ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) received advice from the party’s Provincial Ethics and Disciplinary Officer (PEDO).

Disciplinary process predates arrest

IOL reports that ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni said the disciplinary process was already under way before Teffo’s arrest on September 15. The probe followed concerns about Teffo’s conduct after he appeared at the Johannesburg High Court wearing ActionSA regalia.

IOL says that ActionSA’s Tshwane structures asked Teffo to account for the court appearance, and the matter was referred to PEDO, which “found that there was a prima facie basis for the disciplinary process to continue.”

Terms of the suspension

According to IOL, the PEC considered Teffo’s arrest and, after receiving PEDO’s advice, decided to suspend him. While suspended, Teffo is prohibited from participating in ActionSA campaign or party activities, from representing or speaking on behalf of the party, or from presenting himself as acting for the party.

“We want to be clear about what this means. The suspension is not a finding of guilt. Mr Teffo will have an opportunity to respond to the matters before PEDO, and the process must be allowed to run fairly,”

Next steps in the party process

IOL reports that PEDO has been instructed to deal with the matter urgently and to report back to the PEC. Ngobeni emphasised that candidates and public representatives are expected to account when questions are raised about their conduct and cautioned against determining outcomes through public commentary.

“ActionSA expects its candidates and public representatives to account when serious questions are raised about their conduct. At the same time, we will not replace a proper disciplinary process with a trial through the media,”

According to IOL, Teffo is an ActionSA ward candidate in Tshwane for the November 4 local government elections. IOL quoted the party as saying it will “communicate further once the disciplinary process has reached the appropriate stage.”