Tlokwe rebels return to ANC
THE ANC yesterday made an about-turn on its Tlokwe rebels, readmitting the 14 expelled councillors to the party and making room for them to return to the council where it has lost power to the Democratic Alliance.
The councillors are today expected to meet the North West provincial executive committee and be readmitted to the party. A decision on whether they will be eligible to stand in next month’s municipal by-elections will also be taken.
The decision by the national disciplinary committee to overturn the expulsions is an attempt by the ANC to improve its chances of reclaiming control of the municipality, which was lost when the 14 supported the removal of mayor Maphetle Maphetle. Eight by-elections are scheduled to take place in the municipality on September 18.
This is a blow to the DA, which had hoped that the rebels would contest the by-elections as independent candidates and help keep DA mayor Annette Combrink in office.
Yesterday’s decision can also be seen as a vote of no confidence in Supra Mahumapelo’s provincial executive which has been accused of causing divisions in the province.
The move also appears to scupper Maphetle’s chances of returning to his old job. The former mayor has been accused of corruption.
The rebels have lobbied national leaders of the ruling party since their expulsion in July. The Sunday Times reported that they held a secret meeting with President Jacob Zuma in a bid to win his backing.
The ANC disciplinary committee found the 14 rebels not guilty on a technicality because they were charged seven months after committing the offence.
“This was in contravention of the ANC constitution, which provides that charges must be instituted within three months,” the chairman of the committee, Derek Hanekom, said in a statement yesterday.
The disciplinary committee ruled that the expelled councillors had not been given enough time to prepare for the case.
It also dismissed a charge against the 14 councillors that they had failed to endorse the appointment of the municipal manager.