Johannesburg – A former North West ANC councillor claimed on Monday he was being hounded out of his job after joining the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

“I have received a letter from the municipal manager informing me that I am suspended from my job at the municipality,” said Abner Matlhoko, section manager for the civic centre and community halls at the Rustenburg municipality.

Matlhoko accused municipal manager Maletse Mako of personally phoning trade union Samwu’s representative to inform him of his intention to suspend him (Matlhoko).

He said his suspension was triggered by the hiring of a hall in Paardekraal which would have been used for an EFF meeting last Saturday.

Matlhoko was an ANC councillor under proportional representation and member of the mayoral committee.

He said: “The only reason for my suspension is that I have dared to leave the ANC and cross over to the EFF. This is the only cause for my suspension by the municipal manager,” he said.

When EFF members arrived at the hall, they found it full of ANC supporters.

The reason given for this was that the municipality had booked the hall to launch Women’s Month. This was not true, he said.

The EFF gathering, scheduled to be addressed by former ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu, took place outside the hall.

When approached for comment, municipal spokesperson Thapelo Matebesi asked for the questions to be e-mailed to him.

He had yet to respond about four hours later.

– SAPA