By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has suspended its former leader, Nqaba Bhanga, from all party activities pending an investigation.
DA’s provincial leader Andrew Whitfield said the decision to suspend Bhanga was taken unanimously by its Provincial Executive Committee.
A notice of intention to suspend Bhanga was delivered to him by the sheriff of the court and sent to him via email on Monday.
According to a statement, Bhanga made written representations as to why he should not be suspended.
Whitfield said after considering all the arguments made by Bhanga, the PEC found his arguments to be without merit and made his suspension official.
“The party’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC) is now investigating Bhanga’s conduct as well as his allegations and the matter is out of the hands of the DA in the Eastern Cape.
“The DA remains deeply disappointed by Bhanga’s conduct which is contrary to the party’s constitution and his previous commitment to the party and to non-racialism,” said Whitfield.
The FLC is a politically independent body tasked with investigations in the DA.
Having stepped down as leader of the Eastern Cape earlier this year, he failed to make it to the top after he contested to become one of the party’s deputy federal chairpersons.
Since then, Bhanga has been serving as the leader of the opposition in the Eastern Cape legislature.
Bhanga’s suspension ends his longstanding career as a DA politician in which he served as an MP, MPL and mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.