KNYSNA NEWS - Two ANC Southern Cape region members were included on the Western Cape provincial list of people who are affected by the ANC step-aside rule published by City Press on Sunday 9 May, namely ANC Southern Cape regional secretary Mzwanele Major Sokopo and Moses Mabhida branch chair Mandla Tyololo.
According to City Press, Sokopo's company Major General Trading was charged for late registration for VAT and for not declaring tax. Sokopo voluntarily stepped aside as regional secretary on 18 December 2017 for six months before returning to the post.
City Press stated that Tyololo was arrested for plotting the killing of Victor "Freeze" Molosi. According to the City Press report, his membership was suspended by the provincial secretary and he is still incarcerated.
In reality, however, Tyololo was acquitted of all charges against him in August last year.
READ: No evidence against Tyololo
Sokopo is still the current regional secretary. On Thursday last week, Sokopo told Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) the information published in City Press is outdated.
"It says Tyololo is in custody while he was released and all charges against him were withdrawn," he said, adding that he does not know who leaked the wrong information to the media. "This is not true and the information published in City Press is wrong," he said.
Mandla Tyololo and his lawyer, Jerome Bans.
Tyololo said he was shocked when he heard that he was listed as someone who will have to step aside.
"I was called by a friend who said I must get a copy of the City Press as my name is on the list of those who will have to step aside. I don't know why my name was on the list as I was acquitted of all the charges against me," he said.
Tyololo said he reported the matter to the ANC Western Cape convenor, Lerumo Kanako, who was shocked and promised to investigate the matter.
Kanako told KPH he does not know how Tyololo's name came to be on the list of those who will be affected by the step-aside rule. "These names were leaked to Luthuli House. There are people who sent rumours and allegations and treat them as the truth. Tyololo was acquitted and his name was not on the provincial list that we sent to Luthuli house," he said.
Kanako said the step-aside rule was adopted after Tyololo's case was already concluded.
"Tyololo called me last week and I told him to write a formal complaint so that the matter can be thoroughly investigated," he said. "As the province we never sent Tyololo's name to Luthuli House."
However, according to him Sokopo's name was indeed on the list of those who will be affected and Sokopo has no problem stepping aside.
"If you remember, he stepped aside from his position for about six months to try and get the case against him finalised. Even now, he is prepared to step aside until his matter is finalised," he said.
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