‘Expelled councillors not welcome back’

ANC FRANCES Baard regional secretary Webster Dichaba said the expelled ANC councillors would not be welcomed back into the fold “any time soon” unless they have undergone intensive rehabilitation.

The expelled councillors wish to retain their positions at Sol Plaatje Municipality and want their expulsions to be overturned by the national structures of the ANC.

Dichaba said that the ANC was confident of winning all seven wards in today’s by-elections.

“The expelled councillors are playing with the emotions of our voters. They must first prove that they qualify to be members of the ANC, before they can come back.”

He was satisfied with how special voting for the by-elections had proceeded yesterday.

“We are focused and ready for the national general elections and are intent on improving service delivery. The ANC is renewing itself and has brought back hope. We have dealt with our mistakes of the past,” said Dichaba.

ANC provincial spokesperson Naledi Gaosekwe meanwhile welcomed the court judgment to allow the by-elections to continue.

“The Northern Cape High Court has once more dismissed the application of the seven former ANC councillors, with costs. The courts continue to vindicate the ANC with its rulings and further affirms the procedural correctness and fairness of the internal disciplinary processes of the ANC as contained in our constitution,” said Gaosekwe yesterday.