7 MORE PURGED

ANOTHER seven ANC members from the ZF Mgcawu branch in Upington have also been suspended and will face disciplinary action. The letters from the Ivan Afrikaner branch secretary’s office in Upington, advised that the branch executive committee had decided to suspend them pending disciplinary hearings that would be carried out regarding misconduct where the “continued participation” of the members posed an “immediate threat to the well-being” of the membership of the branch and the region. One member was chastised for being absent from an ANC meeting, where he opted instead to “direct letters to the secretary general’s office and the provincial secretary attacking the integrity of the branches and the Regional Executive Committee (REC)”. Members were warned that further action would be taken against them if they defied instructions to desist from participating in any ANC activities or any involvement that could lead to the physical harm of ANC members or the disruption of ANC processes. The ANC regional secretary in the ZF Mgcawu region, David Kazi, yesterday confirmed the suspension of the members but stated that the matter was being dealt with at branch level. “I am not familiar with the charges or the reasons for their suspension. Once the matter has been handled by the branches, the region will be informed of the outcome. If the members wish to appeal they will do so via the regional and provincial offices.” ANC members who are lobbying for ANC provincial secretary Zamani Saul in the upcoming leadership contest, believe that senior members were being purged from the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) because they are not supporting the premier to take over at the helm of the ANC in the Province. Two ANCYL Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) members, Helen May-Walters and Sandile Dick, as well as the Frances Baard ANCYL regional secretary, Tshepo Louw, and the ANCYL chairman of the ZF Mgcawu region, Moses Moalosi, were suspended last week. ANC sources stated that the suspended members intended laying grievances with the Provincial Executive Committee and the national office regarding their unfair suspension. “Disciplinary action will be taken against the members for undermining the decision of the ANCYL to support Lucas.” They added that this went “against the grain” of allowing members to choose their preferred leadership. “They do not want anyone to go against the grain, they want sheep that will blindly follow.” ANCYL provincial chairwoman Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba meanwhile called on Premier Sylvia Lucas to remove members of the executive council (MECs) who had formed part of a protest that was staged by ANC members in Upington, against the MEC of the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Alvin Botes, and Lucas. “It is absurd that MECs serving on the ticket of the ANC can form part of a protest march against an ANC MEC and premier.