By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has terminated Western Cape legislature speaker Masizole Mnqasela’s membership, following disparaging comments he made about the party during a media briefing.
This was in violation of the terms of the cease and desist letter sent to the speaker by the party’s federal executive.
DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said Mnqasela has ended his membership by making disparaging remarks about the party and the decisions of its structures.
Mnqasela has until 10:00 on Tuesday to reapply for his party membership.
The move comes as the the DA filed a motion of no confidence against Mnqasela last week.
Following allegations of fraud and corruption in May, the party said he was charged with misconduct and had been suspended from taking part in DA activity.
Mnqasela, however, refused to step aside.
On Friday, a motion of no confidence was filed against him.
Mnqasela responded over the weekend by saying the allegations were “malicious” and a “political witch hunt”.
He added that the decision to submit a motion of no confidence was “strange”.
“I have been sitting in the disciplinary hearing by the Federal Legal Commission [FLC], and when I was told while I was in the hearing that the motion that seeks to remove the speaker. For me, this is quite strange; parliament itself has not dealt with any complaint,” he said.
“I have not been found guilty of anything, and I refuse to sit back and allow a witch hunt against me to continue.”
Mnqasela was facing allegations of corruption and irregularities related to subsistence, travel and entertainment allowance claims.