Picture: The MPL in North West Provincial Legislature, Mmoloki Cwaile
By OBAKENG MAJE
Factionalism, gatekeeping and purging, continue to be the ‘order of the day’ within the African National Congress (ANC) in North West, if what ANC Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Mmoloki Cwaile said is anything to go by. Cwaile, who was spitting venom, accused some of the ANC leaders (Provincially and Nationally) of conniving and colluding to oust him.
In 2022, Cwaile was charged with misconduct by the ANC Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC). His membership was suspended for 10 years, but he appealed the sanction.
However, he alleged that, is been almost 10 months since waiting for the decision on his application.
“My Lord, you will remember that, the thugs who call themselves leaders in the ANC and stole the Provincial Elective Conference (PEC) in August 2022, have connived and colluded with national leaders to deal with me decisively.
“You will remember that, even before the conference could be completed, ANC deployee to the North West, Obed Bapela, who is the main beneficiary from the province, made a pronouncement that I must be charged.
“Indeed, I was charged and subsequently to that, I was subjected to a traumatic disciplinary process that was sitting every day of the weekend until 8 March 2023,” he said.
Cwaile further said the ANC Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC) that was erroneously constituted, pronounced that he was dismissed from the ANC. He added that, over and above, his membership was suspended for 10 years.
“I’ve never heard of such a sanction. However, I was never given any opportunity to deal with their evidence because it was non-existent. No witnesses were brought forward and ANC dismissed me without exercising the audi alteram partem rule, which is a principle of administrative justice and fairness.
“I then appealed the matter to the National Appeal Committee (NAC) for review. In terms of the Constitution of the ANC, the appeal must be resolved within six months. However, I can tell you now, it’s been almost 10 months since waiting for the decision,” said Cwaile.
He said on top of that, he had written more than 10 letters to the Office of the Secretary-General (OSG) seeking redress, but with no response. Cwaile alleged that those who were supposed to assist him from the national level, are beneficiaries of tenders from various departments in the province.
“They are eating and dining on behalf of the people of the North West. That is why they are muted and the attitude is that they must conclude the nomination list and submit it to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), so that they close the door and no one will have the opportunity to challenge it.
“You would know that the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) has adopted the guidelines that say, if one has been charged and on appeal, must be disqualified to be nominated to the parliament,” he said.
Cwaile said he was nominated successfully and allowed to go through all processes of interviews, including security vetting. He said, however, on the 11th hour, the party decided to use that policy against him.
“When the ANC adopted that policy, it was wrong because the constitution says, even if you are a subject of disciplinary action, you remain to have that right. But, that right was denied only to Cwaile.
“There is a collusion and conniving of both ANC leaders from local and national level to make sure that they frustrate me. I am therefore accepting the decision to dismiss me. These leaders are muted and they should be like that forever,” said Cwaile.
He said he will quickly disengage from the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) because he is no longer a member of the ANC by virtue of the Provincial Disciplinary Committee.
Meanwhile, the ANC Provincial Chairperson, Nono Maloyi said: “I would not know about the outcome of the decision regarding appeals made by those ANC members who were sanctioned. We should be knowing by now that the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) is an independent body, which does its work.
“So, once it completes its exercise, it must then pronounce the outcome. However, for now, we all know that those comrades have appealed their cases at the national level. So, I do not sit in the NDC and I would not know or be able to give you answers to that question. But, the members of the NDC or PDC are best placed.”
The Guardian 