ANC’s factions at each other’s throats

RENEWED tensions between supporters of suspended former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and the current ANC provincial interim leadership have resurfaced despite calls for the cessation of hostilities by the party’s top leadership.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa issued a restraint order on March 29, following a complaint by the Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) of sabotage, allegedly by those loyal to Mahumapelo and against the step-aside rule.

The IPC under Hlomane Chauke was also urged to establish a Provincial Integrity Committee to deal with cases of ill-discipline. Despite the order, Mahumapelo’s supporters are gearing themselves to challenge the legitimacy of the IPC in court. They want Chauke and his team to stop executing the step-aside rule, and to refrain from holding branch general meetings before the local government elections in October.

Lopang Rothman, a former ANC Kenneth Kaunda regional secretary, urged those affected by the step-aside rule to approach the courts and challenge the party’s decision.

Rothman also said his group was consulting lawyers to interdict the ANC from preparing for local government elections without its involvement. But Chauke would have none of it. He confirmed that he had instructed the ANC regional committee to prefer disciplinary charges against Rothman for his “denigrating comments about the party” in the media.

Chauke was adamant that his provincial body was going ahead with the NEC resolution to force those with pending criminal cases to step aside.

“We are going to implement the NEC decision. I can confirm that the mayor of JB Marks Local Municipality, Kgotso Khumalo, has submitted his resignation letter to the IPC. We are waiting for the speaker of the municipality to confirm. Afterwards, the ANC caucus will meet to make preparations for the election of a new mayor,” Chauke said.

Yesterday, Mahikeng Local Municipality speaker Bafana Thedeus Nebe said he was going nowhere.

“The charge of malicious damage to property against me was withdrawn in April 2018. So the step-aside rule does not apply,” Nebe said, despite Chauke insisting that he would be removed as speaker.