Botes gets ultimatum

ALVIN Botes has three weeks to report for duty in the National Assembly or a two-year suspension from the ruling party will be enforced.

This follows a disciplinary hearing last week where the former MEC of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), was instructed to either abide by the party’s wishes to take up the new position or face a two-year suspension from the party.

In a statement on Friday, ANC provincial secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, stated that Botes would be awarded a fair opportunity to appeal against the decision.

He was due to join ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul and Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Gladys Oliphant, in Parliament at the beginning of October but refused to tender his letter of resignation to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature nor to the Office of the Premier.

This delayed the long-awaited provincial cabinet reshuffle as well as the swearing in of former Member of Parliament, Patrick Mabilo, as a MPL.

The hearing was postponed on several occasions when Botes produced a doctor’s letter to explain his absence.

“Botes opted to represent himself and called no witnesses,” Ngxanga said.

“He also did not present evidence under oath. He excused himself from the hearing after having been afforded ample opportunity to obtain further particulars. The panel resolved to proceed with the hearing in his absence.”

Botes was accused of breaching the ANC constitution by “failing, refusing or neglecting to execute or comply with any ANC policy, standing order, rule, regulation or resolution adopted or made in terms of this constitution or breaching the provisions of this constitution”.

“After careful consideration of all facts presented, the panel felt that it had no alternative but to find him guilty of being in breach of Rule 25.17.3,” Ngxanga said. “In reaching a decision, the panel considered the evidence presented, the absence of evidence to counter allegations, along with evidence in mitigation (none) and aggravation.”

The enforcement of this disciplinary action will result in a twoyear suspension of Botes’ party membership, a period during which he will not be permitted to serve as an ANC representative in any government capacity.

“He will have three weeks to presents himself to the National Assembly to be sworn in on or before January 21, or on any date as confirmed by the National Assembly administration.

“If he fails to do so it may result in the immediate implementation of the sanction,” Ngxanga said.

“The Provincial Disciplinary Committee is satisfied that the disciplinary proceedings were properly initiated and that the proper process was followed.

“The deferment/suspension of the sanction does not suspend his right to file an appeal within the prescribed 21 days.”

Shortly after the announcement of his suspension, Botes took to Twitter, claiming that the formal statement from the party’s provincial leadership was aimed at undermining his role as a member of the national executive.

“The main thrust is that, at no point did I rebuff a deployment matter to the South African Parliament,” Botes tweeted. “I only requested time to attend to a private medical issue and was rudely surprise when a notice appeared in the newspaper.

“The negative public narrative that these comrades in the Northern Cape wish to create is what pains me.”

He added that he had contested for the position of the party’s provincial secretary but decided to decline, resulting in a “concerted attempt to vandalise” his persona.

“My election as a member of the ANC’s National Executive has sprung a surprise on those who are opposed to organic leadership and those who expect us to keep quiet when wrongs are being committed by some amongst our ranks,” Botes added. “Lest we forget, I did not join ANC to be in government.”

A message shared by several prominent members of the ANC in the Province on social media, stated that Botes would lodge an appeal with the newly-elected ANC secretary general, Ace Magashule, while the matter would only be handed over to the National Disciplinary Committee subsequent to the first ordinary meeting of the party’s newly-elected NEC next month.

ANC provincial spokesperson, Naledi Gaetsewe, was neither willing to confirm nor deny this information without knowing the source of the statement.

“It is extremely difficult to comment on hearsay as I do not know the origin of this message,” she said yesterday. “As a Province we have communicated the outcome of the hearing and have made the ‘conditions’ clear.

“We will no longer be commenting on the matter of Comrade Alvin until it has been finalised.”