Botes confirms hearing appeal

THE MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Alvin Botes, has confirmed that he has appealed the outcome of his disciplinary hearing which has threatened to suspend his membership with the ANC for the next two years.

He is currently attending to his duties as an ANC national executive committee member (NEC).

Assigned

“I am an active member of the ANC national executive and have been assigned this week to do political work in East London. I am attending my first national executive meeting with ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa tomorrow (Wednesday). Unity of purpose should continue to be the bedrock upon which the ANC is built.”

Botes said that he had written to ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule on December 30 to file notice of his appeal.

“Further supplementary information will be filed during the course of the month.”

Acting upon “the internal doctrines of the organisation”, Botes said he had taken advice not to make any further public announcements.

He explained that he had since attended to the private medical matter that had delayed his deployment to the National Assembly.

“I have dispensed with the private medical matter and am attending to my responsibilities as a cadre of the ANC, in my current deployment. As indicated, previously, I am able to fulfill any role the organisation assigned to me, including, which I have demonstrated to qualitative contributions as the ANC head of policy and research, MEC for Social Development and as MEC for Coghsta.”

The ANC in the Province has given Botes a grace period until January 21, to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament, failing which he will be slapped with a two year suspension.

He was charged for failing to comply with and breaching the ANC constitution, where he was deployed to parliament in October last year.

If suspended Botes will not be able to serve as an ANC representative in government.