By OBAKENG MAJE
ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the North West has temporarily suspended the membership of the former North West Premier and ANC provincial chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo on Wednesday.
ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke said Mahumapelo has committed a ‘series of transgressions’ that undermined the ANC in the province.
“We can confirm that the ANC IPC last week reflected on the conduct of Mahumapelo. So, the IPWC consequently resolved to place Mahumapelo’s membership on temporary suspension pending the finalisation of the disciplinary process.
“This is subsequent of series of transgressions, Mahumapelo committed against the ANC in the North West province. We can confirm that Mahumapelo was invited to the ANC IPWC with a view of explaining the recent public remarks that he made which sow divisions within the ANC in the province,” he said.
Chauke further said, however, Mahumapelo ‘chose’ not to meet with the IPC. It is alleged that Mahumapelo publicly attacked the IPC and organised parallel ANC campaigns across the province. Mahumapelo was not available for comment before publishing this article.
Meanwhile, some disgruntled ANC members across four regions signed a petition calling for the removal of the ANC IPC amongst others. ANC member in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region, Lopang Rothman said: “This petition is brought in terms of Rule 5 of the ANC Constitution where it states in Rule 5.1.2 that a member is entitled to receive and impart information on all aspects of ANC policy and activities.
“In Rule 5.1.3, it says that a member is entitled to offer constructive criticism of any member, official, policy programme, or activity of the ANC within its structures.”
Rothman further said in Rule 5.2.2 that a member is entitled to take all necessary steps to understand and carry out the aims, policies and programmes of the ANC. He added that after noting Rules 12.1 and 12.2, they have made consistent communication with the ANC NEC, but they could satisfy themselves that the ANC NEC has failed in its mandate of implementing conference resolutions (54th ANC Nasrec Conference).
“The ANC NEC disregarded the court orders, thus failing to comply with Rule 12.2.4 of the ANC constitution by establishing the IPC. The IPC is now 19 months in office since its establishment in July 2019.
“As members of the ANC in good standing, we have raised a concern on the lapse of IPC’s term of office, where they are currently operating without any mandate. The ANC NEC has now started a trend of undermining constitutional powers of other ANC office bearers and or other ANC NEC members,” said Rothman.
He said this confuses the ANC members, and the society by misrepresenting ANC processes as indicated in Rule 16.6.1 which state that the ANC Secretary-General shall communicate the decisions of all national structures of the ANC on behalf of the NEC.
Rothman said since its election in December 2017, the ANC NEC has contravened Rule 10.6 of the ANC constitution, thus failing to convene an NGC.
“This happened for the first time post the liberation struggle of our history, failing to afford ANC members and its structures to audit the ANC’s performance at a mid-term review,” he said.
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