FIVE local leaders were suspended by the Communist Party (SACP) yesterday in the aftermath of deadly riots opposing the African National Congress candidate for mayor of Tshwane, which includes Pretoria.

SACP Gauteng provincial secretary Jacob Mamabolo said the five would be charged with bringing the party into disrepute and for violating its rule against factional behaviour in other organisations — in this case the ANC.

It follows the report of a investigative panel set up last Monday. But Mr Mamablo said the report would be kept secret.

But he said ominously: “Law enforcement agencies must move swiftly and decisively … to hold culprits criminally liable” in the unrest.

While Mr Mamablo did not name the five district executive committee members suspended, he said they included all the office bearers.

One of those is Apson Makaung, who had campaigned for years to expose corruption involving Tshwane mayor Kgosientso “Sputla” Ramokgoke and his faction in the local ANC — for which Mr Makaung was also suspended last May.

The violence broke out on Sunday evening after the ANC replaced Mr Ramokgoke as the mayoral candidate in August 3 elections with National Assembly chairwoman Thoko Didiza.

While the ANC gave no reason for the switch, an anonymous source told newspapers that he had been involved in corrupt dealings with local businessmen.

The source further alleged that the rioting was organised by a meeting of 13 of those businessmen and members of Mr Ramokgoke’s faction at the city’s Court Classique Hotel, led by former ANC Tshwane regional deputy secretary and Tshwane city council transport chief George Matjila.

A purported photo and a text message of minutes of the meeting were leaked on Thursday by Mr Makaung and others.

Mr Matjila claimed the photo of the baker’s dozen eating pizza in a hotel room was taken in Durban, where “comrades” had gone for “a rest.”

He and another alleged member of the group, Tsholofelo Malope, claimed they were at the ANC’s Luthuli House HQ in Johannesburg with regional officials — including one who leads a faction often opposed to the national ANC leadership and allied with Mr Ramokgoke’s faction.

Mr Matjila accused other ANC members of inciting the violence.