20 Eastern Cape ANC leaders face chop
Provinces submit names of members who must step down
● More than 20 ANC leaders in the Eastern Cape alone could be removed from their positions because they are facing criminal charges or are being investigated for a range of crimes.
This after the ANC national executive committee decided at its special meeting last week that all leaders who face criminal charges must vacate their positions pending their court cases.
A list of those affected in the Eastern Cape is part of a report from the provinces that was prepared for the NEC meeting.
The report is incomplete as KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga were yet to submit their lists at the time the document was compiled.
In the Free State, where the provincial treasury issued personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders that benefited the sons of ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, the party found there had been no wrongdoing in the matter.
Motheko Projects, owned by Magashule’s eldest son Tshepiso, received a contract for R2.29m and Marvel Deeds, owned by Tshepiso’s brother Thato, was paid R427,221.
Free State ANC provincial secretary Paseka Nompondo said in his report that the procurement process complied with National Treasury guidelines.
The Eastern Cape report revealed how the provincial integrity commission had cleared premier Oscar Mabuyane of allegations that money siphoned from a struggling municipality were used to renovate his home.
But it also showed that the party had in the past failed to act against members accused of rape, fraud and corruption.
Those on the list include:
● Two councillors in Matatiele who are accused of rape, the victim in one case being an epileptic aged 14. The party is yet to act against either of the councillors;
● A councillor in King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality, Mbongeni Mabaso, who is accused of selling a house to a destitute woman and robbing her of R25,000. He is also said to have directed food parcels to his friends and family. The MEC for co-operative governance & traditional affairs has expelled Mabaso as a councillor, but the party itself has not taken any steps against him;
● In the same municipality, councillor Xolani Mbongwana allegedly stole R120,000 from an elderly woman by promising to help her buy a minibus taxi. Instead he kept the vehicle and registered it under his name;
● Councillor Roseline Witbooi in East London, who was charged with fraud last year after she persuaded the council to pay compensation of R10,000 to a family that lost three members in a shack fire, then forced the family to give her half the money. She is yet to be called to account for her actions by the ANC;
● Amathole regional secretary Teris Ntuthu, who is facing charges of corruption and fraud in connection with the awarding of tenders in Mnquma municipality. Ntuthu refused to appear before the provincial integrity commission, accusing it of bias; and
● Councillor Andile Lungisa, who this week refused to step down from the Nelson Mandela Bay council or the ANC branch task team. Lungisa was found guilty in 2018 of assaulting a fellow councillor.
ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi declined to comment on the report this week. “That report is meant for internal discussion. We can’t comment on internal discussion.”
However, Ngcukayitobi said the party would remove Lungisa from all positions of responsibility in the metro and the ANC. He said Lungisa’s defiance was part of a fightback campaign by those accused of wrongdoing.
“It is the fightback of people who have gone rogue … The ANC is going to release him from all his duties. It’s only a matter of time.”
In Gauteng, provincial secretary Jacob Khawe listed 10 cases that date back to that of Brian Hlongwa, who stepped down as chief whip in 2018 over corruption allegations.
Khawe’s report says the provincial integrity commission is still working on its investigation into the Gauteng PPE procurement scandal.
Health MEC Bandile Masuku, his wife Loyiso — who is on the Johannesburg mayoral committee — and presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko have appeared before the commission.
Khawe revealed that the provincial integrity commission has instructed community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko to issue an apology following a leaked audio recording of her making “racial connotations”.
The province also ordered Boyce Maneli, a former West Rand mayor and chair of the portfolio committee on communications, to step down along with Merafong mayor Maphefo Mogale-Letsie over their failure to act against officials who invested millions of municipal funds in VBS Mutual Bank.
The North West reported a long list of leaders who are facing criminal charges. It also revealed that a case had been opened by the interministerial committee that could implicate former premier Supra Mahumapelo in irregular activity.
Northern Cape provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga’s report says two party councillors had been accused of fraud related to food parcels in Upington. No criminal charges were laid against the two.
In the Western Cape there were several cases of members who had broken the law, including former Oudtshoorn councillor Magdalene Titus, who is serving a life sentence for killing her husband, and Mandla Tyololo, who is serving time for plotting to kill another ANC member.