By Kaya 959 News
Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus is set to appeal his suspension from the ANC.
The party’s acting deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte confirmed on Wednesday that Niehaus had been suspended – with immediate effect – for bringing the party into disrepute.
ANC spokesperson, Pule Mabe, said this comes after Niehaus’s “inflammatory statements” uttered at the homestead of former State President Jacob Zuma, at the weekend.
Addressing a gathering in Nkandla, Niehaus said there would be “dire consequences” should Zuma be sent to prison.
READ: Jacob Zuma hands himself over to police
He further told the masses that the MKMVA will form a human shield to protect Zuma.
Human shield remarks
Duarte said the term “human shield” was considered as a provocation and a term used by international terrorists.
“The National Executive Committee has resolved that such conduct constitutes acts of misconduct and warrants disciplinary action,” Mabe said.
He added that the ANC has also decided to temporarily suspend Niehaus’s membership with the party.
Niehaus vowed to appeal the suspension.
I will appeal this suspension by @MYANC with immediate effect.
I remain a dedicated liberation fighter. pic.twitter.com/8Sy78fOkna
— Carl Niehaus (@niehaus_carl) July 7, 2021
‘Responding emotionally and in anger’
Earlier in the week, the ANC confirmed the disbanding of the MKMVA and condemned the actions of those acting under the banner of the MKMVA.
Duarte said the party could not have youth league members older than 40 and then have MKMVA members who are younger than 35.
Reacting to the disbandment, Niehaus accused the party of “responding emotionally and in anger.”
“This is a totally unacceptable situation, which MKMVA will not accept. We are an autonomous structure, and it is not legally, nor politically, possible for the ANC to disband MKMVA,” he said.
Niehaus said the MKMVA will continue to exist as an autonomous and legally functional Association governed by its own Constitution.
“Our MKMVA NEC will continue to carry out the democratic mandate bestowed on us by our 5th National Conference in 2017,” he said.



