ANC councillor faces axe over liquor claims

ANC Ekurhuleni councillor Solly Silawule, who is accused of stealing liquor from a bottle store during the violent protests in Gauteng, stands to be axed by his party.

While Silawule has yet to face trial on charges of theft and public violence, his party’s regional executive has already indicated that it will act against the Ward 71 councillor who allegedly brought his party into disrepute.

Adding to the ANC’s embarrassment, news of his arrest was not made known by the law enforcement agencies and the ANC itself, but by the opposition party in the Ekurhuleni Metro Council.

The DA’s constituency head of Daveyton-Etwatwa Mat Cuthbert and Ekurhuleni DA’s PR councillor Khathutshelo Rasilingwane broke the news about Silawule’s on Monday.

In its statement, the DA said it noted the arrest of the ward 71 councillor, and that it was alleged that Silawule was involved in looting a bottle store at Daveyton Mall, and was subsequently arrested by the SAPS on Monday.

“The DA calls for due process to be followed and for Mr Silawule to be afforded a fair trial proceeding,” Cuthbert said.

The ANC only reacted after Silawule had already made his first appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court charged with theft and public violence, on Tuesday. He was not asked to plead on either count and was remanded in custody. His bail application is scheduled for tomorrow.

Silawule faces a daunting task of revealing whether he has any criminal convictions or pending charges against him – a requirement for a presiding officer to consider in any application for bail.

Adding to his woes, as a public representative and member of the governing ANC in one of the big metros in the country, Silawule took an oath of office in 2016 in which he pledged loyalty to the Constitution.

Yesterday, the ANC in Ekurhuleni through its spokesperson, Sonnyboy Masingi, said the party would act speedily against Silawule to ensure that he answered to the allegations.

On Tuesday, the party said: “The ANC in Ekurhuleni has noted the developments around the arrest of the ward 71 councillor, and the charges of theft and public violence.

“The ANC wishes to strongly condemn any acts of criminality attributable to any leaders and public representatives of the ANC.”