Faku, Maine resign as MPs
Former Buffalo City mayor Zukisa Faku and the outgoing president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) Collen Maine have resigned as Members of Parliament.
They are the latest in a series of government party MPs to resign from the legislature.
Former ministers Thokozila Xasa, Susan Shabangu, Dipuo Letsatsi Duba, Nomaindia Mfeketo, Jeff Radebe and Siyabonga Cwele all resigned after failing to make it onto President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet.
Faku was convicted on nine counts of fraud related to her misuse of the metro’s official credit card. She was sentenced to three years’ house arrest and community service in 2016.
Maine is still at the helm of the ANCYL despite calls from the league, as well as from certain quarters of its mother body, for the national executive committee to be disbanded.
No reason has been given for Maine’s resignation.
ALSO READ: DISBAND NOW!!!: ANCYL infighting plays out on Twitter
ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina confirmed the latest resignations in a statement on Friday.
“Comrade Zukisa Faku's resignation will take effect as of 31 July 2019, while comrade Collen Maine's resignation is effective as of 5 July 2019,” she said.
“The office of the ANC Chief Whip extends its gratitude to these former MPs for their distinguished service as public representatives to the people of South Africa and to the ANC in parliament.”
The party has already identified their replacements.
“Faku will be replaced by comrade Princess Faku on the Province-to-National list of the Eastern Cape, while comrade Collen Maine will be replaced by comrade Renay Van Schalkwyk on the National-to-National list,” said Majodina.