AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
ANC military veteran Carl Niehaus has been released from custody arrested by the South African Police for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations while protesting outside the Escourt Prison in KwaZulu-Natal, where former president Jacob Zuma is being held.
A few hours after the arrest, Niehaus announced on Twitter that he had been freed and ordered to appear in court in Escourt on August 8. The suspended ANC member addressed the small crowd that had gathered to demand that Zuma should be freed, was conducting a television interview when he was arrested and taken away by uniformed police officers.
Niehaus has been the face and the voice of the now-disbanded Umkhonto we Sizwe Veterans Association.
Niehaus has been suspended for his inflammatory statements made at the weekend outside the home of former ANC president Jacob Zuma, who has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.
According to a letter signed by Jessie Duarte the ANC’s national executive committee has resolved that disciplinary action must be instituted against him. “The NEC has noted with concern your inflammatory speeches made outside the home of former President Jacob Zuma at Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province over the weekend of 02 to 04 July 2021 and which were broadcast live on national television and has come to the conclusion that such utterances brought the ANC into disrepute. Moreover, you were clad in a T-shirt bearing the ANC logo when you appeared on television. The ANC has resolved that it is in contravention of Rule 25.17 of the ANC constitution, in particular Rule rules 25.17.4.25.17.7 and warranted disciplinary action,” Duarte said.
She said the NEC had a reasonable apprehension that Niehaus was likely to continue with his acts of misconduct and cause further damage to the name and reputation of ANC.
Duarte said: “Consequently, in the current volatile political situation in the country, aided and abetted by our incendiary speeches, the NEC has come to the conclusion that the exceptional circumstances exist which justify that your temporary suspension comes into operation with immediate effect in accordance with Rule 25.60 of the ANC constitution and that the seriousness of your transgression and misconduct justifies not affording you 48 hours to respond to the allegations of misconduct.”
Niehaus announced on Twitter that he would immediately appeal the suspension.
