Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus has declined to comment on the ANC’s intention to place him on suspension after he attacked ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte in a recent statement.
“I do not comment on leaked letters,” Niehaus said on Tuesday morning when asked to comment on the letter sent to him informing him of the intention to place him on suspension.
When pressed further on the knowledge of the letter, he said: “Stop it. I am not commenting.”
In the letter addressed to Niehaus and dated January 19, ANC general manager Febe Potgieter-Gqubule reminds him he has been employed in the secretary-general’s office since March 2019 to give direct support to the work of the secretary-general.
She wrote: “You have been advised, on more than one occasion, that your public statements and social media posts are unbecoming of someone working in this high office, which has the primary responsibility of driving and co-ordinating the work of all structures of the ANC. You also received a written warning to this effect on October 12 2019.
The notice to suspend Niehaus from the ANC comes less than a week after he had accused Duarte of publicly bashing him in the media.
“I am saddened that even the Deputy Secretary General of the ANC, comrade Jessie Duarte, saw it fit to attack me, and undermine my long history as a 42-year veteran of the ANC in good standing, as well as my elected position as an NEC member of MKMVA, and MKMVA National Spokesperson. This she did, knowing that when she was doing so, I was gravely ill. It was unnecessary and callous – I am deeply saddened by it,” Niehaus said.
It is not yet clear what exactly Niehaus is referring to, however some of his part remarks, many made in defence of Magashule, of which he is a fierce supporter, have prompted Duarte to condemn him on several occasions.
Potgieter-Gqubule said Niehaus’ comments on Duarte were in violation of the ANC Personnel Policy Manual. Niehaus has now been given 48 hours to explain why he should not be suspended on full pay, pending the institution of disciplinary action against him for misconduct