The Office of the African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip in the Mpumalanga Legislature says it and Philemon Lukhele, one of the accused in the Hillary Gardee’s murder case, have agreed that the allegations against him have put the office into disrepute.
The office has suspended Lukhele without pay pending an internal disciplinary hearing. Lukhele and the other two accused are facing six charges including kidnapping, rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice and conspiracy to commit murder.
They are accused of killing the daughter of the former Economic Freedom Fighters Secretary-General Godrich Gardee.
ANC’s Provincial Chief Whip, Fidel Mlombo says they engaged with Lukhele.
“As an office of the chief whip, we regard these charges as very serious charges, hence we have decided to suspend him with immediate effect and this suspension is a suspension without pay. He is expected during the time of the suspension not to visit the office, not interact with the employees, and also to surrender all working tools that are in fact given to him, He agreed with me that this charges are very serious, this charges they have the office of the chief whip in disrepute.”
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![[File Image] Delegates chant slogans as they arrive for an African National Congress (ANC) conference.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SABC-News-ANC-Reuters-750x375-1-120x86.jpg)
