Klerksdorp -
North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs and ANC provincial deputy chairman China Dodovu might be suspended by the provincial executive committee (PEC) following his arrest on Monday for alleged conspiracy to commit murder.
Dodovu was arrested by the Hawks on Monday and became the eighth suspect in the murder case of the late regional secretary of the ANC’s Dr Kenneth Kaunda region, Aubuti Chika, last year.
He appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, but his case was postponed to Wednesday when he is expected to make a bail application.
ANC North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo said Dodovu’s arrest and the charges against him would be discussed at the PEC meeting due on Thursday.
North West Premier Thandi Modise has already announced that Finance MEC Paul Sebego will head Dodovu’s department while he is facing charges, and the ANC is also expected to suspend him when it meets on Thursday.
Dodovu is likely to be suspended by the largely divided PEC. The fact that he’s not had a warm relationship with Mahumapelo won’t do him any good. He has been one of the most outspoken opponents of Mahumapelo and his closest allies, ahead of the ANC’s Mangaung conference last year, and has been a staunch ally of suspended provincial secretary Kabelo Mataboge.
But the ANC’s resolution at Mangaung about members facing criminal charges – which is that they must vacate their positions while they face the music – is expected to be the legitimate reason used to cast him aside.
Mahumapelo on Tuesday steered clear of questions about what was likely to happen at the meeting.
“The law will take its course. The officials decided yesterday to report this matter to the PEC when we meet, and they will then discuss it and decide on the way forward. This of course will be done in line with the ANC resolutions taken at Mangaung regarding formally charged members,” Mahumapelo said.
National executive committee (NEC) member Bathabile Dlamini, a deployee to the province, was quick to point out that the ANC presumed all members and individuals innocent until proven guilty, but added the provincial and national leadership would have to deal with the Dodovu matter.
Dodovu appeared calm as he arrived in the dock yesterday, simply dressed in a pair of jeans, blue stripped shirt and a black jacket.
He smiled and greeted the familiar faces in the courtroom, and chatted casually to his legal representative.
The courtroom was packed to the rafters, with many failing to make it inside to see the most high-profile suspect to be arrested in connection with Chika’s murder.
The attorney for Chika’s family said they were shocked by Dodovu’s arrest but it showed there were many people involved in Chika’s killing.
“Mrs Chika is encouraged that there is serious progress in the investigation of her husband’s murder, though she is still distraught because of his death.
“This has been a very hard time for her and the family, but she is confident the law will take its course,” family attorney Gcina Dlanjwa said outside court.
SA National Civic Organisation chairman in the Kenneth Kaunda region, William Mmolawa, said they were not shocked by Dodovu’s arrest. “We have always believed that he was involved in Chika’s death and we feel vindicated now that the Hawks also came to the same conclusion. It was all because Chika was supporting Zuma and his branch was supporting Zuma.
“We are confident that the courts will arrive at a conviction,” Mmolawa said.
Police beefed up security and were preparing for what is expected to be a huge turnout by Chika’s supporters when all eight suspects, now including Dodovu, will line up together in the dock for the first time.
Pretoria News