By OBAKENG MAJE
22 September 2024- The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West said it is ill-fated with the ANC’s persistent selective approach, which undermines their shared objective of working together to uplift the people of the North West.
This comes after allegations that, ANC in the province, has taken a decision to replace SANCO’s provincial chairperson, Tshepo Khoza who was unceremoniously removed from the position of Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature amid fake matric certificate allegations.
The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi is expected to make changes to his Executive Council (EXCO) next week after he was instructed by the ANC National Executive Committee to remove a male MEC and replace him with a female to address gender disparity.
Now, Mokgosi has relinquished former ANCYL president, Collen Maine from his position as North West MEC for Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation and replaced him with ANC Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Virginia Tlhapi, who is also former MEC for the same portfolio.
According to our highly-placed source, the decision was taken on 18 September 2024, during the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting. However, Maine allegedly requested until next week to wrap up some of the projects that were already at the advanced stage.
Those projects include the opening of Manthe Indoor Centre and Taung Cultural Calabash preparations, amongst others. Maine is expected to replace Khoza as the Deputy Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature.
On 21 June 2024, Mokgosi appointed five men and five women as MECs in his EXCO. However, he was supposed to apply the 60/40 method.
SANCO provincial spokesperson, Mzukisi Jam said: “Well, we have not been formally informed by the ANC regardless of the fact that we have written a letter making them aware that the position of the Deputy Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), belongs to SANCO.
“Therefore, any replacement should be a representative from SANCO. We have heard about such rumours on various social media platforms that the ANC is going to replace Khoza with Maine.”
Jam further said, however, the ANC has not said anything to them regarding the replacement. He added that they have written another letter last week to the ANC, informing them of the process.
“But, the fact that we have not received any response from them regarding the replacement is disastrous. We are extremely disappointed in how the ANC continues to treat us.
“We are being treated as if we are a child with leprosy or a stepchild. The ANC does not consult us in any decision process. We would raise our concerns to them as its alliance, but it would turn a deaf ear,” said Jam.
He said they are left with no choice, but to escalate the matter to the ANC’s national office. Jam alleged that ANC in North West, continues to function like a stokvel, which they would not like to be part of.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) Provincial Secretary, Madoda Sambatha, shared the same sentiments. Sambatha said when the ANC took a decision to appoint MECs, it did so without consulting them.
“So, we were not consulted when they went against the ANC NEC norm, which says when the Premier is a male, the appointment of MECs should be 60/40. We feel that the ANC should have taken its alliance partners on board when appointing MECs.
“The only successful consultation we had with the ANC as alliance partners, was during the appointment of the presiding officers. However, we are prepared to engage the ANC to understand the role of the alliance, especially when it comes to the appointment and deployment,” he said.
Sambatha said when the ANC in the province was instructed by the NEC to correct the gender disparity, the ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo, informed them about the decision. He said, however, when they took a decision to remove Khoza as the Deputy Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature, they were not informed.
“I guess it is because this was not a normal removal. It was a decision prompted by the discovery of non-existence of the matric certificate on Khoza’s part. However, ANC had a separate consultative engagement with SANCO regarding Khoza’s removal.
“Diremelo only informed us regarding the circumstances surrounding Khoza’s removal during the secretariat meeting of the alliance. In that meeting, we were informed that Khoza was only removed as a Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature and he will be retained as the Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL),” said Sambatha.
He said on the issue of the removal of the male MEC to effect ANC NEC decision, they were not involved again as SACP. Sambatha said, however, once the ANC took a decision on who must be removed, Diremelo informed them.
“Now, on the decision of who must be detached or being brought in, it was not the alliance’s deliberations.We were not informed about the name of who should be detached or brought in.
“Sadly, we are informed that during the ANC Provincial Executive Committee’s deliberations, the names of individuals who were discussed were Maine and I, as the SACP Provincial Secretary,” he said.
Sambatha said from where SACP stands, it was unfortunate because it means ANC would have resolved to remove him without engaging SACP.
Meanwhile, the ANC spokesperson in North West, Tumelo Maruping said: “This matter is still internal and Mokgosi will communicate his decision next week.”
The Guardian 