Factional battles inside the ANC continue to engulf municipalities across the North West province. The latest municipality to hackle the headlines is the Tswaing Local Municipality.
The municipality has recently declared nine posts of councillors vacant and has written to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) requesting it to remove the names of these councillors from the IEC list.
Estranged municipal speaker, Phemelo Lebelo said: “The municipal council took a resolution after seven ward councillors and two PR councillors failed to attend council meetings in numerous times.
“These councillors have infringed their code of conduct. So, the council establish a special committee to investigate why these councillors failed to attend, but they did not cooperate.”
Lebelo further said the special committee submitted its recommendations to the council. She added that the recommendations were also submitted to the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile.
“Cwaile failed to respond to our requisition regarding this matter and the council was forced to implement option 2 by suspending them and withheld their three months salaries.
“Unfortunately, these councillors continued to be rebellious and failed to attend council meetings afterwards. This forced the council to remove them from their posts and write to the IEC declaring their posts vacant,” said Lebelo.
However, one of these councillors, Sam Letlakane refuted these allegations. Letlakane said on 29 June 2020, the council agreed to pass a motion of no confidence against the Speaker, Chief Whip and the Mayor.
“Lebelo went to court and interdicted the decision. Unfortunately, the court ruled in their favour and from that time, she conducted all council meetings visually, Lebelo frustrated us by not providing us with correct links, sometimes we will get the link for the meetings without any agenda.
“We made numerous attempts to urge the speaker to convene a council meeting and add motion of no confidence in the agenda. We eventually took the matter to court for intervention. Lebelo told the court that she will adhere to our request till now,” he said.
Defiant Letlakane added that they remain councillors at the municipality and the only person who is vested with powers to remove them from the IEC lists is the MEC.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the IEC in North West, Dr Tumelontle Thiba responded to the municipality’s letter.
“We would like to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9th April 2021 regarding the declaration of nine vacancies in the Tswaing Local Municipality. The attached do not indicate the decision of the MEC in accordance with the provision of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000, Schedule 1 particularly items 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 and 14.6.
“Please read the attached extracts of the Schedule and if needs be, respond accordingly,” Thiba said.
Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader, Kagiso Mangwejane said: “We would like to disassociate ourselves from all ANC political infights. The issue of removing nine councillors by the speaker using the council resolutions is not the proper way.
“According to the legislation, the must be a special committee established to investigate allegations levelled against the councillors. All recommendations need to be submitted to the council and the MEC. The only person with the prerogative to decide on the sanctions against the councillors is the MEC, not the Speaker.”
Cwaile said he is still applying his mind around the matter and he will respond afterwards.
A 32-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court for murder. Tshepo Lenyai from Manthe village, in Taung allegedly stabbed Kamogelo Lekaota (18) at a local tavern called Disoufeng a week ago during Easter weekend.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the atrocity took place at around 3:30am. Tselanyane said it is alleged that the duo was fighting over alcohol.
“Taung police received a call from the Manthe clinic at around 3:30am. The police rushed to the scene and found Lekaota’s lifeless body in a pool of blood with stabbing wounds. He was stabbed on the left side of his chest.
“According to information, the deceased was ferried to the clinic for medical attention, but he succumbed to his injuries. A 32-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application,” he said.
Lenyai was remanded in custody during his first appearance to give police more time to investigate. He is expected to apply for bail today.
Picture: Greater Taung Local Municipality Speaker, Ebusang Tladi
By OBAKENG MAJE
Gloves are off within the ANC caucus at the Greater Taung Local Municipality council. This comes after the removal of the municipal mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Charles Motlhabane from his mayoral position through a motion of no confidence.
Motlhabane was ousted from his mayoral position by the Economic Freedom Fighters’ sponsored motion during a virtual special council meeting on Tuesday. Now, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the North West is ‘hopping mad’ and says municipal speaker, Ebusang Tladi must fall on his own ‘dagger.’
It is alleged that a seditious Tladi who is believed to be a staunch member of Mahumapelo and Radical Economic Transformation (RET) forces, connived with the EFF to oust Motlhabane from his position.
Sanco provincial secretary, James Gadinabokao described Tladi as a ‘defector’ and said it is high time to derail him and his cronies from their rails before they destroy the ANC.
Gadinabokao said they will approach the court to seek legal ramification in quest of restoring Motlhabane’s good image and integrity.
“The removal of Motlhabane by the EFF motion of no confidence supported by Tladi is unlawful, unprocedural, illegal and unethical. But, we are aware as SANCO that Supra Mahumapelo is fully behind this because last weekend he had a meeting with some of the ANC councillors who plotted against Motlhabane,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, Lesego Maila said: “Motlhabane’s removal is yet another example of the ANC’s factional and internal battles playing themselves out at the expense of residents. The DA tried to raise concerns regarding this procedure and the legal ramification that may follow if proper steps are not followed, but our concerns were ignored by the Speaker.
“Tladi informed councillors that according to Section 28 of the Municipal Structure’s Act, if a motion is not opposed then it can be passed without being debated or discussed.”
ANC councillor, Crespo Menyatso also questioned the method used by Mahumapelo’s ‘cheerleader’ to conduct the council meeting. Menyatso vented his views on his Facebook page.
“In terms of the GTLM council rules of orders (rule 28.2), it was illegal for the Speaker to allow the EFF’s motion of no confidence against the mayor of GTLM to be discussed in today’s council meeting.
“Tladi denied councillors of the ANC to debate in opposing the motion of minority party. He removed everyone who stood to oppose the so-called motion of no confidence against the mayor from the special council meeting that was held virtually today,” he said.
Menyatso further said clearly, Tladi is the one who removed Motlhabane as the mayor, not the EFF. He added that the motion was sponsored by the Speaker and his group.
“The good man was removed but…….”
However, the egotistical Tladi refuted the allegations. He said there is nowhere he indicated Section 28 of the Municipal Structure’s Act.
“I have said in terms of Section 28.7 of rule of orders, if the motion is not opposed, it just goes as it is. It is not me, but the rules of orders adopted by the same councillors. So, this is what exactly happened regarding the EFF motion.
“I can attest that the ANC including the DA did not oppose the motion. Both parties did not submit any intentions to oppose. In terms of procedure of the council, councillors who have any intentions to oppose after receiving the agenda should submit their speaking lists to the Speaker through their Chief Whips to be allowed to speak,” Tladi said.
He said there was no way he could allow councillors to speak on the motion that they did not oppose. Tladi also said it is not true that the MPAC of the municipality is dysfunctional.
“The MPAC of the municipality is functional and it has been applauded by the National Portfolio Committee on Local Government. We are the only MPAC that was recognised across the Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality.
“Menyatso concurred that he did not submit his intention to oppose, but requested me to indulge on that matter. However, I refused because he did not submit his intentions to oppose,” said Tladi.
He also lambasted Gadinabokao and regarded him as a loose cannon. Tladi denied meeting with Mahumapelo too.
“If Mahumapelo was in Taung and met with ANC councillors, he is a member of the ruling party. But to clear the matter, if Mahumapelo wants to meet me, no one will prohibit me to do so.
“However, I am not aware of any meeting between Mahumapelo and some ANC councillors,” he said.
ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) spokesperson in the North West, Kenny Morolong said: “Well, we have noted with concern the decisions of both Madibeng and Taung Local Municipal Councils to remove both their mayors through motions of no confidence.
“We have also learnt with utter shock that ANC deployees collaborated with the oppositions to remove both mayors of the ANC and did so without the organisation’s directive. These developments represent a continuation of a new and worrying tendency in our caucuses across the province.”
Morolong said this tendency seeks to erode the centrality of the ANC as the only centre of power. He said they would like to remind their deployees that the deployment and re-deployment of the mayors remains the exclusive domain of the IPC.
“So, the IPC in due course will reflect in these developments. Following which it will explicitly expresses itself with respect to its decisions and the next course of action,” he said.
Picture: Former Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane
By REGINALD KANYANE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality continues to be marred with pandemonium. This comes after mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Charles Motlhabane was ousted from his mayoral position through a motion of no confidence on Tuesday.
The motion was tabled by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and was not opposed by ANC councillors after being seconded by another EFF member, Amogelang Matuane. EFF regional secretary in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Justice Dabampe said they sponsored the motion because Motlhabane allegedly misled the council.
“We have sponsored this motion precisely because service delivery in Greater Taung has collapsed. Motlhabane has also abused the taxpayers’ money by frequently using the mayoral vehicle for his own personal use, instead of attending to the challenges affecting the communities.
“Again, Motlhabane misled the council in a sense that, he said he does not know if whether his executive committee is effective or not. However, he knew very well that some of the executive members were not active and he had a report to prove that,” Dabampe said.
He further said by so doing, Motlhabane broke his own oath of office by lying deliberately and distorted facts in a council sitting. Dabampe added that as EFF, they believe that this is a step towards the right directions to remove the ANC from power.
The F4SD councillor, Mika Moeti shared the same sentiments. Moeti said they have experienced the paralyses within the municipality’s Portfolio Committee and the Executive, lack of service delivery and lack of accountability.
“We support the motion and we believe that the newly-elected mayor, Oageng Seleke will take the municipality forward because of his vast experience and knowledge within the municipality.
“The municipality failed to submit its Annual Financial Statements (AFS) to the Office of the Auditor General (AG). In the past, there was no oversight done by the political head to ensure that there is accountability,” Moeti said.
He said Motlhabane also failed to ensure that he holds the administration accountable and addresses corruption allegations that were levelled against the municipality.
Meanwhile, the municipal speaker, Ebusang Tladi confirmed that indeed Motlhabane was removed as the mayor. Tladi said he received two motions of no confidence against the mayor from the EFF and F4SD.
“The EFF tabled the motion during a special council meeting today. Now, in terms of rules of orders, Section 28.7 explicates that the Speaker should include motions in the agenda according to the order of priority. The rule also elucidates that if those motions were not opposed, will be conceded as they were.
“Only motions that were opposed have conversed and that’s what happened. So, the EFF presented their motion and it was seconded without being opposed. I check with the acting Municipal Manager if there were anyone opposing the motion, however, there was no one hence the motion was processed without being discussed,” he said.
Oageng Seleke was elected as the new mayor unopposed and he is expected to be sworn in soon. Motlhabane is the second mayor to be ousted in a week after the Madibeng Local Municipality mayor, Jostinah Mothibe was ousted recently.
A 44-YEAR-OLD man, who allegedly burned his nephew to death, is set to do a formal bail application at the Taung Magistrate’s Court today. Pilane Lepile from Nommer 1 village in Taung was arrested by the Taung police last week Sunday in connection with murder.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said Lepile was nabbed after he allegedly burning his nephew, Neo Salagae (37) to death.
“The atrocity took place at Nommer 1 village in Taung at around 5am. According to information, Lepile arrived at his house in the early hours of the morning where he allegedly heard a noise in the house and went to investigate.
“He allegedly found Salagae in the bedroom holding his laptop. It is alleged that a fight ensued between the two and Lepile hit Salagae with a pick handle wood lasher and burnt him to death with petrol afterward,” Tselanyane said.
He said Lepile went to the Taung Police Station to report the matter. Tselanyane added that the police found Salagae already dead at the scene and a murder case was opened.
“Lepile was charged with murder and he appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. However, he was remanded in custody until 13 April 2021 for a formal bail application,” he said.
A 53-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody by the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday. North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said Jonas Rabaitsile Matshane was arrested for allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend, Dan Moleko Radebe (49).
Tselanyane said the atrocity took place on 27 March 2021 on Buffelsvlei farm just outside Ventersdorp.
“On the day of the incident, Radebe was allegedly seen by residents of the farm on his way to the farm, but he had never arrived. It is further alleged that the last person who was seen leaving the farm on the day of the incident and at approximately time that Radebe was seen, is Matshane.
“Following the mysterious disappearance, Radebe’s girlfriend went to file a missing person’s report at the Ventersdorp Police Station. On 28 March 2021, Matshane was allegedly spotted coming from the direction of wheat fields holding a spade,” he said.
Tselanyane said on 30 March 2021, Radebe’s lifeless body was discovered in a shallow grave in the wheat fields not far from farm workers’ houses. He added that Matshane allegedly left for Klerksdorp on 29 March 2021 and never returned.
“A search for Matshane ensued and on 30 March 2021, he handed himself over to the police in Klerksdorp. He got detained and transported back to Ventersdorp. Matshane was then charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice,” said Tselanyane.
The matter was postponed to 29 April 2021 for further investigation.
Seven suspects arrested in connection with gang-related crimes committed in February 20121 in Jouberton Township near Klerksdorp. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said a crime intelligence-driven operation by a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Detectives, Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Anti-Gang Unit resulted in the arrest of the suspects aged between 28 and 53 this week.
“They were arrested in connection with eight gang related crimes committed in Jouberton Location outside Klerksdorp. The suspects allegedly torched and damaged property belonging to apparent rival gang members. Furthermore, several cases of attempted murder were opened during the same period for investigation.
“These arrests brought the number of suspects arrested thus far to seventeen. Meanwhile, all seven suspects have appeared at the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Friday and they were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on 16 April 2021,” Myburgh said.
North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the team for working around the clock to ensure that alleged perpetrators are put behind bars. Kwena once more warned that acts of lawlessness and undermining the authority of the State will not be tolerated.
The Greater Taung Local Municipality Speaker, Ebusang Tladi has come under fire amongst some disgruntled ANC members after the removal of three ANC members from the EXCO.
Judy Mothibi, Grace Moipolai and Crespo Menyatso were removed from the EXCO through a ‘motion of no confidence’ tabled by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) at the municipality last week.
However, a concerned ANC member, Pico Seepamere came out gun blazing and penned a letter regarding what transpired. Seepamere alleged that the motion of no confidence by the EFF was misguided under the pretext of ANC defiant deployees at the municipality.
“It is only the tried and tested ANC cadres deployed in government who understand that thought through party-position communicated at the ANC caucus prior to the council meeting that must suffice.
“The level of anarchy and defiance by the ANC deployees at the municipality is a call for concern to all of us, particularly on transformational mergers because it’s their key responsibility,” Seepamere said.
He further said in July 2020, an extreme defiance played itself out during the statutory council meeting in Pudumoe and the same ordeal was recapitulated on 30 March 2021 during a Visual Statutory Council Meeting when a group of ANC councillors ‘unconstitutional’ toppled three Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) without a party position.
“Political instability is a recipe for disaster and the contamination of the conducive environment planted under the stewardship of the late Oom Gov Kaone Lobelo and the then disciplined and committed collective councillors of ANC.
“When you topple your own comrades, it is an insinuation of political instability, therefore, the agenda of contesting the state resource to transform society falls off, opportunistic tendencies looms high and the trusted revolutionary movement (ANC) suffers dearly,” said Seepamere.
He said they are aware of the event prior to the last council meeting dated 30 March 2021 where the role of money played to remove Menyatso, Moipolai and Mothibi. Seepamere said in fact, the mayor of the municipality, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane was also targeted, but the plan was a decimal failure due to lack of candidates.
“Therefore, the opportunistic Pulling Down Syndrome undermining the role of the law, MFMA structure’s Act and all related ACT’s continues under the EFF and the balaclava ANC defiant group led by the lumpen Speaker and the Chief Whip of the majority party.
“Despite the engagement by some councillors to caution him of flouting and bypassing legislative progress, he insisted the opposite by unprocedurally removing the three MMC members,” he said.
Seepamere added that the six EFF councillors cannot topple the ANC mayor and it is highly impossible. He alleges that clearly, these EFF councillors are ‘a lapdog of the so-called Speaker and cohorts’ to achieve a misguided goal and also to worsen the political instability in the municipality.
“It is the responsibility of the opposition party, particularly the EFF to bring instability for their relevancy in garnering support for the upcoming local government elections and it is only revolutionaries who can use their political consciousness level properly to detect political misfortune and opportunistic tendencies.
“You touch Motlhabane, you touch ANC branches in Taung Sub-Region o tla di gama o sa di tlhapela wena Tladi le EFF (Loosely translated as: You will be in for it Tladi and the EFF). We want to call on the ANC IRC to suspend/withdraw the useless Chief Whip because she is failing to convene a caucus prior to the council meeting, as a result, they attend council without a party position,” said Seepamere.
Meanwhile, the ANC IRC coordinator in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Walter Mabogola shared the same sentiments. Mabogola was allegedly heard during the ANC virtual caucus meeting mincing his words.
“The ANC must intervene and we are saying that we must have a report because the speaker will never give it to us because of his attitude. The Chief Whip will never give us a report, even though we gave her the instructions.
“So, we decided to get a report from the alternative office, which is the Office of the Mayor before next week Wednesday. We want this report to be processed through the officials of ANC Interim Regional Committee (IRC) and the Interim Regional Working Committee (IRWC),” he said.
Mabogola added that they have observed that, these issues are not new and it is just a matter of getting a report on what has transpired last week at the council sitting. He further said they have requested the mayor to provide them with the report so that they can take this matter up with the ANC.
“Lastly we are saying appropriate disciplinary actions must be taken through the invocation of Rule 25 of the ANC constitution. So, we will do that comrades and this is the end of the report that we needed to present before you.
“The report has the inputs of other members of the IRC who were part of the previous meeting including the inputs of the Municipal Manager and the mayor. The mayor must work collectively of the caucus to ensure that report reflects all the views of all comrades on the ground,” he said.
Mabogola further said they acknowledge that there are problems. However, he said this to be achieved, they need to get the report from the caucus.
“Unfortunately, this time the report will come from the mayor working collectively with the caucus with the support from the Office of the Municipal Manager. So, this is the end of my presentation comrades.
“The ANC caucus is highly divided and dysfunctional. The division is conspicuous comrades in that caucus and can be seen by everybody. We have seen it manifest itself at the level of the council meetings, where councillors of the ANC after the mandate and the constitution of the party is issued to them as a collective,” said Mabogola.
He said some will decide not to take instructions, while others decide to take them. Mabogola said there is a root cause of the polarity that is observed in that caucus.
“Some are listening to the ANC, while others defies the party’s orders. It is very clear, this is not about factions but who is prepared to take the instructions of the party or not. I am not going to say you are factional, but I’ll say you are obedient and some are disobedient to the party that deployed them.
“The Speaker and the Chief Whip are masterminds behind the defiant campaign that is there in the caucus of Taung against the ANC. There is also a trend of tendering coordinated apologists for not attending ANC caucuses by the councillors who are defiant and who are aligned to the speaker and the Chief Whip,” said Mabogola.
He said it appears as if, after receiving an invitation to attend the caucus, then they convene another meeting where they agree not to attend the caucus meeting. Mabogola said there is that pattern that they have observed over a period of time.
“So, comrades another reflection is that it appears as the mayor and the Chief Whip has decided to allow the Speaker of that municipality the space to do as he pleases in the office of the mayor and of the Chief Whip.
“Sometimes when you listen to him, he speaks like a speaker, but sometimes he speaks like the Chief Whip. He calls himself an all-rounder and the mayor must deal with governance issues including in particular, issues of service delivery,” said Mabogola.
However, he said they do not see that happening, but they see only ‘one man’ show in that institution hence the Speaker feels that he is bigger than anyone else.
However, Tladi refuted allegations levelled against him. He said he did not attend the IRC caucus meeting because he feels that they cannot attend a meeting with people who ploy against them.
“If they say I am a loner, they mean all those who are elected in the mayoral and Chief Whip positions are redundant. I know that the IRC has been planning to remove me from the Speaker position for months.
“This was triggered by the removal of three EXCO members who belong to their faction. Now, the EFF has submitted a motion of no confidence against the mayor, and we will attend to that on Tuesday,” he said.
North West University (NWU) has expelled three students for illegal actions in separate incidents. The University spokesperson, Louis Jacobs said in the first incident, a final year BEd student has been expelled from the university following a disciplinary hearing.
“The Disciplinary Committee (DC) ruled that the student was guilty of assault of staff members and the destruction of university property. The student still has the right to appeal the outcome of the disciplinary process.
“In the early hours of 6 March 2021, a small group of students of the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus gathered at the main entrance of the campus to protest in support of calls for a national shutdown of universities. These students barricaded the entrance of the campus and caused complete mayhem that prevented staff and other students to access or exit the campus,” Jacobs said.
He further said during the protest action that lasted for almost the entire day, the protesters assaulted staff and vandalised university property. Jacobs further said the assault resulted in the hospitalisation of two members of the university’s Protection Services.
“The evidence provided shows the student assaulting these staff members with rocks, breaking the gates and windows, burning chairs, and destroying security cameras. The NWU empathises with academically deserving students who are unable to register due to financial constraints, and support constructive initiatives aimed at finding long-term sustainable solutions for higher education funding in our country.
“We have demonstrated our commitment for support by using our very constrained resources to cover registration costs for some of the deserving students. The assault of staff and students and vandalism are not ways and means of ensuring that academically deserving students get access to higher education, but are mere short-sighted and selfish ways that can only perpetuate their suffering,” he said.
In the second incident, two members of the Vanderbijlpark Campus Student Campus Council were also expelled, after their disciplinary hearing was concluded. Both members were found guilty for their actions during February 2021.
Jacobs said the students were found guilty of involvement in the university’s business activities with third parties, involving owners of private accommodation.
“Their request for appeal has been denied and we welcome the Disciplinary Committees’ ruling regarding these students. It is regrettable that young persons’ lives have taken this turn. However, all of us including students must know that there are consequences for our actions and take accountability,” remarked Prof Dan Kgwadi, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU.
“The NWU has in the past few years experienced violence and vandalism that continue to cost the university financially and in other ways. I have repeatedly told our students and their parents and guardians that we have a zero-tolerance for violence and misconduct of any kind,” said Jacobs.
He said the students can have robust debate about issues without assaulting each other or damaging property or bringing the university’s name into disrepute. Jacobs said after all, they are at a university where difference of opinion and contestation of ideas are encouraged and promoted.
“I wish all our students can embrace constructive ways of resolving problems and avoid this kind of results. Regarding the business operations of the university, both staff and students must refrain from interfering or influencing the outcome of the university process in order for us to ensure transparency and fair business practices,” he added.
Picture: The late SACP General Secretary, Chris Hani
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
South Africans continue to celebrate and commemorate the life of the slain South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, Chris Hani. On 10 April 1993, the Eastern Cape-born politician was assassinated by an anti-Communist Polish refugee, Januzs Walusas who had close links to the White nationalist AWB after he returned home to the racially mixed suburb of Dawn Park, in Boksburg.
South African National Congress (SANCO) chairperson in North West, Paul Sebegoe described Hani as a courageous and finest internationalist. Sebegoe said Hani was a ‘defender of the poor, the downtrodden and marginalised.’
“Not even time can demolish the monument that Hani had built-in our people’s heart and engraved in their minds as a champion of their struggles because he was a special cadre that stood for unity and collectivism.
“The bullets that killed him did not just kill one of the finest and courageous, but they robbed South Africa, Africa and the world of an internationalist, defender of the poor, the downtrodden and marginalised, a revolutionary and a statesman,” he said.
He further said the killer robbed South Africa the culture of service, selflessness, humility, principled leadership, and integrity that Hani embodied. Sebegoe added that the people believed in Hani not only because he was a fearless warrior, but because they knew that he would not betray their course, or put his personal interests above theirs.
“Greed as well as the corruption that sponsored state capture and eroded confidence in public institutions would have met a formidable opponent in him, he maintained. He would be among those calling for accountability and the protection of our constitutional democracy and not threatening the country’s stability when they must account because he knew too well, the cost of war.
“Now more than ever before, the ANC, as well as the revolutionary alliance including the mass democratic organisations, are yearning for leaders of Hani’s calibre,” said Sebegoe.
He said the ANC and its alliance owe it to Hani’s memory to ensure that the landless and homeless have access to productive land and decent housing. Sebegoe said the ANC must ensure that radical socio-economic transformation brings the youth and rural women into the mainstream of the economy.
“We need to ensure that the post-COVID-19 economic interventions mitigate against grinding poverty, rising unemployment and widening inequality,” he concluded.
According to www.sahistory.org.za Hani was exposed to Marxist ideology, while a student at the University of Fort Hare, where he also explored his childhood passion for the classics and for literature. Hani attended Fort Hare from 1959-1961 and graduated in 1962 from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, with a BA degree in Latin and English.
He then moved to Cape Town and worked as an article clerk with the Schaeffer and Schaeffer legal firm from 1962-1963, but did not complete his articles.
Hani was exposed to political thought from a very young age through his father, Gilbert Hani, who was active in the ANC and eventually left South Africa and sought asylum in Lesotho. However, Hani’s political involvement really began in 1957 when he became a member of the African National Congress’ Youth League (ANCYL).
He cites the conviction of the ANC’s leaders in the Treason Trial (1956) as his main motivation to begin participating in the struggle for freedom. While at Fort Hare, Hani’s political ideas developed even further. Hani provided greater detail of his time at the university.
The Guardian 