By OBAKENG MAJE
A group of disgruntled African National Congress (ANC) members in the North West continue to lash out at the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC). This comes after the temporary suspension of the former North West Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo’s membership.
The group picketed outside the ANC provincial headquarters in Mahikeng on Thursday. They accused the IPC of ‘sowing divisions’ and ‘skewed’ towards its decision on suspending Mahumapelo.
Mahumapelo was suspended last week for allegedly sowing divisions and undermining the ANC IPC. It is alleged that Mahumapelo organised parallel ANC campaigns and instructed the embattled mayor of JB Marks Local Municipality, Kgotso Khumalo not to ‘step aside’ as per instruction by the IPC.
A representative from the ANC branches in Mamusa Sub Region, Papa Jood said: “We want to make it clear that, the purported suspension of our leader has nothing to do with being ill-discipline, but it is clear that, this matter has everything to do with the planned Regional Conferences, Provincial Conference, National General Council and ultimately the 55th National Conference that is planned to sit as per the constitutional requirements of the ANC.
“Mahumapelo’s active membership in the ANC North West gives these lapsed IPC leaders a headache as it is inevitable that he will lead this province again as the Chairperson of the ANC. As part of the branches in this province, we have noted this unconstitutional suspension as an illicit activity, laughable and a joke to our organisational constitution.”
Jood further said they have always sustained that since the unlawful disbandment of the legitimate ANC Provincial Executive Committee led by Mahumapelo, the CR 17 camp is out to purge those that do not tow the same line with them.
“We are of an understanding that our leader, Mahumapelo, is purged for his participation at the by-elections at Mareetsane, in which his contribution made the ANC come out victorious in those elections.
“Secondly, it is alleged that Mahumapelo has influenced another member of the ANC to not step aside as per the IPC instruction. We are still awaiting the finalisation on the lists and 30 days issue from the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), but as expected, the champions of purging in a form of an unconstitutional IPC has already jumped the gun on the issue of Khumalo,” said Jood.
He alleged that the ANC IPC enjoys predetermining things to their undue favour and this behaviour expose its weaknesses of being a reactionary structure that always jumps unnecessarily in the interest of eliminating those that are opposed to their leadership interests in the coming conferences.
He said they view all these unlawful efforts as just a concoction to ensure that their antagonist, Mahumapelo does not participate in all organisational activities including being elected in the upcoming conferences.
Jood said actually, the IPC should start by suspending themselves for not adhering to the NEC decision of 2018 that branches should not be disbanded or be converted.
ANCYL regional secretary in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Wessels Morweng shared the same sentiments. Morweng said the IPC has for the longest time seriously abused its position.
“One can say they are constitutional delinquents because even these charges they levelled against Mahumapelo are baseless as far as the ANC constitution is concerned.
“What is concerning is that there is quite a number of comrades that are been charged for inviting Mahumapelo to deliver lectures on various topics. Last time I checked, they were 23 and this is the abuse of the ANC constitution,” he said.
Morweng further said they will be heading to the South Gauteng High Court next week to challenge the NEC to reinstate the ANC PEC in the province as per court ruling. In 2018, the ANC NEC disbanded the PEC, but the court ruled that the disbandment was unlawful and unconstitutional.
However, 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.
Meanwhile, Mahumapelo and other four ANC members whose memberships were suspended are expected to address the media at Delareyville on Sunday at 1pm. Mahumapelo’s disciplinary hearing will commence on 26 and 27 April 2021 after been adjourned on Thursday.
The Guardian 