ANC distances itself from murder accused

In a dramatic twist of events, the ANC in Mpumalanga has distanced itself from Philemon Lukhele, a murder accused involved in the brutal killing of Hillary Gardee.

Lukhele was arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, rape, possession of an illegal firearm, defeating the ends of justice and murder.
He was charged alongside Sipho Mkhatshwa and Victor Gama.

On Sunday May 15, the ANC announced that it has suspended Lukhele’s membership. The organisation also said he had obtained his membership through irregular means.

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“Following the arrest of Philemon Lukhele, the ANC provincial working committee has taken a decision to immediately withdraw his membership,” said the ANC provincial spokesperson, Ngelosi Ndhlovu, in a statement.

“The withdrawal of his membership has been invoked in accordance with the ANC Constitution rule 4 after an investigation into his membership was conducted which proved that it was obtained irregularly, and therefore does not satisfy the stipulated requirements of the ANC Constitution in that he is not a South African,” continued Ndhlovu.

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Last week, Lukhele was dealt two heavy blows. The University of Mpumalanga terminated his student accommodation contracts and his employers, the Office of the Chief Whip at the provincial legislature, suspended his employment contract without pay. These latest developments are a major victory for the EFF that has been calling for sanctions against Lukhele and his businesses.

“The EFF in Mpumalanga welcomes the termination of his student contracts by the University of Mpumalanga. We also welcome the decision by the Office of the Chief Whip to suspend him without pay. This is victory for us and the Gardee family who is going through a painful journey right now. We have always maintained that the guest lodge belonging to Lukhele was only there as a house of horrors in which young black children were treated with the highest hospitality of hell,” said the EFF leader in Mpumalanga, Collen Sedibe.

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Lukhele and the two other accused will appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on June 9.