ANC’s alleged membership fraud
SUPPORTERS of ANC presidential contenders Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa have accused each other of recruiting members using fraudulent means ahead of the party national conference.
The complaints of fraudulent registration of members have been reported in Abaqulusi, in northern KwaZuluNatal and eThekwini regions.
However, an ANC leader who asked not to be named, said the practice was widespread in the province.
Complaints against Dlamini Zuma’s supporters came from Abaqulusi Region, which is made up of Ulundi, Vryheid, Nongoma, Dumbe and Pongola.
Cases reported against Ramaphosa’s camp came from eThekwini. ANC leaders in both regions confirmed receiving the complaints.
“The aim of fraudulently recruiting members is to enable NDZ (Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma) supporters to send more delegates to the conference,” said a member who declined to be named.
The source said when recruited to join the ANC, membership forms were backdated to July to create an impression that members completed the party’s six-month probation period and were in good standing.
“The membership forms reflect that they had been completed in July when they were actually completed in March and February.
“People are supposed to go to the branch secretaries to join the ANC, as opposed to joining in dark corners. People who support Ramaphosa are denied membership,” said another source.
ANC spokesperson for Abaqulusi Region Zakhele Buthelezi confirmed that the regional office was investigating, and it had requested the province’s assistance with the probe.
“We received a formal complaint from one branch, but there are other branches with similar concerns,” said Buthelezi.
Buthelezi said the regional executive committee has formed a committee to “investigate exactly how many branches are affected”. Another source in eThekwini, who supports Dlamini Zuma, said most complaints emanate from Umlazi, north of Durban. He accused people who wanted a Ramaphosa-led party of helping people join the ANC without the authority of branch leadership.
ANC eThekwini regional secretary Bheki Ntuli said his office was investigating the allegations.
“We have received letters of such complaints from various wards in Umlazi and we are investigating four branches,” said Ntuli.
ANC provincial spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli said the province would conduct its own investigation and those found to have violated ANC policy “would have to account for their actions”.