ANC lets Tlokwe rebels off the hook over irregularity
THE decision by the African National Congress (ANC) national disciplinary committee (NDC) to overturn the expulsion of the party’s 14 rebel councillors in Tlokwe municipality, in North West, adds a new twist to the continuing saga.
The announcement made at the weekend comes as candidates are expected to register for the coming nine by-elections in the highly con- tested municipality, scheduled for September 19.
Early last month, the Tlokwe 14 were found guilty on four counts of misconduct by the ANC’s provincial disciplinary committee and expelled from the party. They were charged after participating in a motion of no confidence against the executive mayor of Tlokwe, Maphetle Maphetle.
The motion, passed in November last year, resulted in the opposition Democratic Alliance taking over the running of the municipality.
But the ANC’s NDC chairman, Derek Hanekom, said at the weekend the 14 were charged seven months after the incident and that this was unconstitutional.
“This was in contravention of the ANC constitution, which provides that charges must be instituted within three months. Based on this procedural irregularity, the councillors were found not guilty,” Mr Hanekom said.
The ANC in the North West said on Saturday it had accepted the NDC’s decision. The provincial working committee had an emergency meeting in Tlokwe on the same day to discuss the ruling.
For the first time in a factionridden province the ANC disciplinary committee has reversed a decision taken by the dominant faction in the North West.
The implication of this weekend’s decision is that it projects the party as being able to correct itself — until the reasons put forward by the NDC are subjected to scrutiny. “It is more about the party finding a flimsy reason to avoid these councillors being snatched by the opposition,” political analyst Ralph Mathekga said.
He said the ANC was trying to manage the situation and to find a way to get the dissidents back in the fold. The councillors would be useful to any party campaigning in next year’s national elections.
“It is better for the ANC to have them inside,” Mr Mathekga said.