African National Congress (ANC) Western Cape member of the provincial legislature Danville Smith's party membership has been placed on suspension. The suspension comes as Smith faces charges of corruption and car theft.

Smith also serves as the ANC's West Coast regional treasurer.

ANC Western Cape interim chairperson Lerumo Kalako said, in a media briefing on Tuesday, that Smith had previously been charged with corruption and was ordered to step aside in accordance with the rules governing members charged with serious crimes.

In April last year, Smith appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on corruption charges and was released on a warning. Smith's court appearance came after a lengthy Hawks investigation into irregularities at the Cederberg Municipality, where he served as speaker until 2016.

At the time, Smith voluntarily stepped aside, but remained a member of the provincial legislature.

Smith, Edwin Sepi, 34, from Witsands, Atlantis, and Malvern Chakoma, from Parow, are accused of pretending they had transferred R210 000 as payment for a vehicle advertised on Gumtree by Petrus Bosman, although no money was transferred to the complainant in order for the vehicle to be handed over.

Smith appeared in the Vredendal Magistrate's Court last week and was released on R10 000 bail. 

Kalako said the party in the province "appreciated the gravity of the charges" against Smith and noted that they were "the second indictment on his part".

He said the party had decided to place Smith's membership on suspension based on "the gravity of these latest charges and given the fact that he [has been charged with] another serious charge".

The matter had also been referred to the provincial disciplinary committee for adjudication.

"The provincial officials are seized with the matter around his membership of the legislature and was tasked to also urgently seek legal advice on how to protect the image of the ANC at the level of the legislature," said Kalako.

Dullah Omar region branch secretary Bulelani Yosana, who was recently arrested for murder, has also had his membership temporarily suspended.