ANC Integrity Commission urges Chris Hani mayor Lusanda Sizani to step aside

The Eastern Cape ANC’s Provincial Integrity Commission (PIC) has recommended that Chris Hani region chairperson and Chris Hani district executive mayor Lusanda Sizani, step aside from his leadership positions within the party due to his ongoing court case.

Sizani is facing charges related to the loss of his firearm, a 9MM pistol, which was stolen from his car during a car break-in in East London on March 18, 2025.

According to the charge sheet, Sizani allegedly failed to secure the firearm properly, violating the Firearms Control Act.

The recommendation may kill Sizani’s hopes of being the ANC provincial secretary when the party goes to conference in March.

The ANC PIC recommended that Sizani step aside from any leadership position he holds within the structures of the party pending the finalisation of his firearm case.

“Sizani should step aside from any leadership position he holds within the structures of the ANC pending the finalisation of his case.

“When Sizani was asked, since he was charged as far back as April 2025, why it took so long to bring it before the PIC, he indicated that, despite trying to contact the leadership of the organisation for advice, his efforts were in vain,” read the recommendation.

The commission said in the light of this experience the PIC also wishes to advise that when a comrade seeks advice from upper structures, they must be promptly provided with guidance on the proper channels to follow.

Sizani did not respond to the questions sent to him.

He is expected back in the dock on February 18 for a pre-trial conference and trial.

ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said the organisation has written to Sizani informing him about the PIC recommendation.

“He has not responded and usually once indicted, individuals should immediately inform the provincial secretary and voluntarily step aside from all responsibilities and such responsibilities include being in the leadership of the ANC in any structure, whether it’s a branch, region, province or nationally,” he said.

He said those in government resign from the particular positions but remain in primary deployment.

“ A councillor remains a councillor until the matter is resolved, but the strategic deployment of being in the executive or in other positions of strategic deployment, you immediately step aside from that particular responsibility until your matter is concluded by the courts,” he said.