By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Caption: (Left) Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa (39), (Middle) Philimon ‘Philly’ Lukhele (47) and (Right) Albert ‘Khabzela’ Gama (52).
The African National Congress (ANC) in Mpumalanga has revoked Hillary Gardee murder accused, Philemon Lukhele’s membership.
The ANC revealed that, following an internal investigation, they found that Lukhele’s membership was obtained illegally as he was not a South African national and cannot hold membership.
Lukhele’s expulsion comes after a meeting of the Mpumalanga ANC’s working committee on Friday.
In a statement, the Mpumalanga ANC spokesperson, Ngelosi Ndhlovu, said: “Following the arrest of Philemon Lukhele and his subsequent charging for kidnapping, rape, possession of an illegal firearm, defeating the ends of justice and the murder of Hillary Gardee, the ANC provincial working committee has taken a decision to immediately withdraw his membership.
“The withdrawal of his membership has been invoked in accordance with the ANC Constitution Rule 4.”
The ANC also revealed that, following an internal investigation, it found that Lukhele’s membership was obtained illegally.
“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,” said Ndhlovu.
It had also emerged that Lukhele was a member of the Eswatini opposition party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo).