By OBAKENG MAJE  

North West Premier, Busy Maape said the province has many semiarid areas but they will ensure that communities receive indispensable services including provision of water. Maape along with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu embarked on an oversight visit to Brits Water treatment plant on Friday.   

“The municipality will expedite all processes in bringing about change in this project. This is done in the interests of our communities. I further commit that all relevant authorities will move with speed in adhering to the set-out the deadlines.

“This is part of a broader plan which encapsulates expediting provision of services to communities. The municipalities are strategically positioned to accelerate provision of services to the people of the province and this will top the agenda of my administration,” he said.

Maape further said they are duty-bound to respond to challenges of service delivery in the province. He added that as per the dictates of the constitution municipalities are legally obligated to carry this constitutional imperative.

“We are confident that the completion of the project will bring much-needed relief to our people. We will be monitoring progress from the province to make sure that actions agreed upon are implemented.  

“We made an oversight visit to assess its status and develop a remedial action plan to respond to challenges bedeviling provision of water services in this municipality. In the recent past, several concerns have been raised by residents with regards to the poor quality of water provision by the municipality,” said Maape.

Meanwhile, Mchunu who was accused of using this activity for ‘electioneering’ said: “It is a coincidence that the ministry’s appointment and subsequent assumption of duty in relation to the provision of water and sanitation services and intervening in the problems which persist, is being perceived by some as electioneering on behalf of the governing party and not viewed as part of us actually carrying out the constitutional and legislative mandates of the department.

“Having read the views expressed on various platforms, including print and social media, what was interesting to note was that these lofty comments emanated from individuals who have full and unrestricted access to clean water, rather than those without any or restricted access to water.”

He said it has also been opined by some individuals, that the non-delivery of water is not as a result of water shortages, but rather as a result of serious mismanagement that plague municipalities.

Mchunu said they acknowledge and confirm that there are challenges in municipalities, for example, the City of Tshwane in relation to the water issues in Hammanskraal, in which they are currently intervening.

“In respect of these management challenges and the non-delivery of water and sanitation services, we have intervened, interacted with municipalities outside of and as part of our provincial visits and have reached consensus on a way forward in most respects.

“What we do emphasise during our engagements is that, whilst we acknowledge the role played by the municipalities as water services authorities, we will not allow their inefficiencies to impede on the delivery of water and sanitation services to the citizens of South Africa,” said Mchunu.

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By STAFF REPORTER

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) has urged people to continue to adhere to COVID-19 regulations. This comes after the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa put the country on the adjusted Lockdown level 2 on Sunday evening.  

SANCO national spokesperson, Simon Skhosana said in a statement that they welcome the lowering of COVID-19 restrictions, however, they caution against irresponsible behaviour particularly in the run-up towards the 2021 Local Government Elections on 1 November 2021.      

“Vaccine hesitancy remains a major obstacle towards herd immunity which will guarantee economic recovery and a return to some form of normalcy. Public education and mobilization to ramp up vaccination rollout must therefore be intensified to counter myths and conspiracy theories particularly among men.

“We implore various political parties not to run ahead of themselves in their quest to speedily mobilise voters through mass gatherings while compromising the lives of the targeted voters. Those who do so would not be deserving of anyone’s vote,” he said.

Skhosana highlighted that non-surgical intervention such as wearing of masks, observing social distancing, and regular washing of hands or sanitizing must be religiously followed to curb infections.

He also urged unregistered and first-time voters to make use of the 18-19 September 2021 final weekend voter registration to register for participation in the crucial elections.

“None should miss the opportunity to exercise their hard-won democratic right to vote for candidates of their own choice who will advance their wishes and aspirations. All of us must go out there and ensure that our addresses are correctly captured on the voters’ roll.

“Communities must not be intimidated by those who are desperate enough to resort to political killings and public violence when they are not nominated as councillors. Barbaric acts of violence such as the drive-by shooting that claimed the lives of three women in KwaZulu-Natal have no place in democratic processes,” said Skhosana.

He further calls on communities to reject such heinous and ghastly acts with the contempt that they deserve as well as assist law enforcement agencies to unmask the heartless perpetrators responsibly.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said: “South Africa is fast becoming a vaccination site. Over a quarter of all adult South Africans have received at least one vaccine dose and more than 7

million people are fully vaccinated.

“In the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and the Western Cape, more than 1 in 5 adults are now fully vaccinated. The total number of vaccine doses administered in the country now stands at 14.6 million doses.”

He said they are now administering a million doses every 4 to 5 days. Ramaphosa added that the government has secured sufficient vaccines to vaccinate the entire adult population, and the supply of vaccines is no longer a constraint.

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By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Dear Fellow South African,
 
A year before the first democratic elections, President Nelson Mandela wrote an article in Foreign Policy magazine on the new South Africa’s future foreign policy.
 
Reflecting on the shifts in global alliances brought about by the end of the Cold War, he wrote that countries would have to “recast their nets” if they were to reap any benefit from international affairs.
 
Since the tectonic shift of 1994 when we made a decisive break with not just apartheid but the international relations outlook of its architects, South Africa’s foreign policy continues to be characterised by this “recasting the net”.
 
Our foreign policy priorities are regional political and economic integration, pursing African development, multilateral engagement and the promotion of democracy, peace and human rights.
 
To this end we have forged strategic alliances with both the countries of the Global South and mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the North.
 
Joining the BRICS group of countries in 2010 was a milestone in our quest to advance our own national development priorities by forging stronger ties with the important emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
 
Put into context, BRICS countries comprise roughly 41% of the world’s population and account for around 24% of global GDP and some 16% of global trade.
 
We have reaped the benefits of membership of this important bloc, most notably in the area of economic cooperation.
 
Bilateral trade has grown, particularly with China and India, with commodity exports and manufactured goods imports featuring strongly.
 
The BRICS countries continue to be important sources of foreign direct investment in key such as mining, automotive, transportation, clean energy, financial services and IT.
 
A 2018 review of our BRICS membership by professional services firm Deloitte noted that BRICS partners “invested three times more capital in the country compared to the seven years prior to 2011”. These investments and projects have in turn led to significant job creation.
 
Since the formation of the New Development Bank, whose regional office is located in Johannesburg, South Africa has been a beneficiary of financing and technical support for projects in transportation, clean energy, environmental protection, water infrastructure and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
 
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa has received $2 billion in funding from the New Development Bank under the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Programme to fight the pandemic and to support our economic recovery.
 
There has also been substantial cooperation with our BRICS partners in securing personal protective equipment and cooperation around vaccine access and distribution.
 
Last week we participated in the 13^th BRICS Summit, where BRICS countries agreed to deepen cooperation to fight COVID-19 and mobilise the political support and financial resources needed to respond to future pandemic preparedness.
 
This includes the establishment of a virtual BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre and a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System to forecast future outbreaks of infectious diseases.
 
Another important area of agreement was on mutual recognition of national documents of vaccination and systems of COVID-19 testing – something that will be vital to cross-border travel in the future.
 
The concept of mutually beneficial cooperation will be particularly important in the global economic recovery, where unequal development means that some countries will bounce back quickly, while others will lag behind.
 
In support of economic recovery, BRICS partners agreed to strengthen collaboration in catalytic sectors such as energy, IT, science, technology and innovation, agriculture and the green economy. These are all important sectors identified in our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan announced last year.
 
Cooperation with other BRICS countries, particularly in the field of innovation research, will help to accelerate our country’s industrialisation and help us meet our Fourth Industrial Revolution aspirations. In this regard, discussions were held around the creation of formal BRICS platforms to share best practice, knowledge and expertise, including the use of open source technology platforms.
 
The BRICS partners agreed that developing countries need assistance to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and that donor countries should honour their commitments in this regard.
 
This is particularly important within the context of climate action. Like most countries, South Africa seeks to move towards a low-carbon development path that is inclusive, sustainable and that takes into account our status as a developing country. The BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform will be valuable as we move to diversify our energy sources.
 
In the eleven years since we joined BRICS, our membership has substantially advanced our national interest. Being a member of BRICS has enhanced our position as an important emerging economy. It has given us access to policy and technical expertise of larger and established economies, as well as access to the support of the National Development Bank. It has strengthened our activism on the global stage, particularly around reform of multilateral institutions.
 
We have benefitted from being part of a collective voice striving to advance a world order based on mutual respect and the equal sovereignty of nations.
 
BRICS is of immense strategic importance to our country, and will continue to be so for some time to come.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The Modise family in Khudutlou village near Taung said they will not rest until the person who killed their daughter, Gosego Modise (19) is behind bars. It was a sombre moment on Saturday as Gosego was laid to rest.  

Seabo High School learner’s body was discovered in an unused pat latrine on 5 September 2021 morning after being strangled to death. It is alleged that Gosego went on a drinking spree with a close family friend who is known to Taung DailyNews before meeting her untimely death.

The suspect allegedly assaulted her after she refused to go and sleep with him. The deceased’s aunt, Gadifele Modise said they are not happy with how the police have handled this matter.   

“The police kept us in the dark regarding the murder investigations. We just saw in the media that the suspect has been released. We had to go to the police to get more details on what has transpired.

“Now, the police told us that they have released the suspect because all witnesses in this matter were drunk. Gosego’s death has affected us as a family and we will not leave any stone unturned in the quest to find justice for her. What is also surprising is that the police have released her body without autopsy results,” she said.

Gadifele alleged that the family of the suspect ‘might have bribed the police to conceal evidence.’ She said the police also squashed allegations that Gosego was raped before being murdered but they do not believe it.

“They say the suspect does not deny that Gosego has bitten him on his hand after a commotion ensued between the two. The suspect insists that he left Gosego behind when going home. But some of the witnesses refute his version and say he was the last person seen with Gosego.  

“It is also alleged that the suspect elbowed Gosego in her face and she developed a swollen eye. The police have released the deceased’s body without postmortem outcomes and we believe the is something sinister they are hiding,” Modise said.

North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said the police have opened a murder case and investigations are underway. Funani said no arrests have been made thus far.  

Meanwhile, Monantsi Kgatwe (21) who was a friend to the deceased described her as a bubbly and loving person. Kgatwe said she was with Gosego at a tavern during that fateful night but left her behind after the tavern was closed.

“Gosego liked finer things and she was larger than life. She was always bubbly and liked to joke around. We met after school on that day and I met her in a tavern later on while in the company of the suspect.

“Her death has affected us all and we hope the police find her killer. We are living in different times where Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is rife and we urge our law enforcement agencies to arrest the perpetrator/s so that my friend can get justice,” Kgatwe said.

Community Development Worker (CDW) in the area, Tebogo Motshebe said: “We call on all men to take a stand in a fight against GBV. We have lost a young life that has a brighter future ahead of her. As men, we must be ashamed of ourselves, but we have a responsibility in identifying and treating the underlying causes of GBV.  

“So, I urge all men to be steadfast and fight this cause. We urge the police to speedily arrest the suspect and all those witnesses to come forward so that Gosego can receive justice,” Motshebe said.

Meanwhile, the Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) president, Dr Mbahare Kekana visited the family on 10 September 2021. ANC Women’s League in the area was also part of the proceedings.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

North West Department of Health said they have ferried all eighteen admitted patients at Christiana Hospital to the nearest clinics and hospitals. This comes after the hospital that was under a whopping R95 million construction was engulfed by fire on Wednesday morning.

The department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said what has happened to the hospital is one of the biggest disasters to hit the town ever. He said they are grateful that no casualties or injuries were reported as all admitted patients were successfully evacuated.

“The indication is that the fire started on Phase 3 of the construction site, where the construction was underway when it broke out. It was at exactly 8:50am when a small smoke was noticed coming from the construction area and it quickly engulfed the entire hospital.

“It then spread to the new handed over sites where patients were being housed and other sections of the facility. We can confirm that everything has been damaged including all new health equipment,” he said.

He further said when the fire started, staff members responded swiftly by evacuating all patients from the wards to the fire assembly area as per occupational health and safety policy. Lekgethwane also lauded the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality Fire department for their swiftly responded.  

“At the moment, the contractor (Temi construction) verbally informed us that, they are not in a position to furnish us with a report from their side. However, they indicated that, they will do so, within few days as they first have to forward it to the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA).

“The department is looking into a plan to be developed on further management of Christiana patients requiring admission. We also looking into a detailed cost estimates to be drafted and submitted to the MEC,” said Lekgethwane.

He said a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire will be conducted with assistance of District Fire Management as well as Public Works department. Lekgethwane said the staff at the hospital will be offered psychological support to manage the traumatic experience.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance councillor in Lekwa-Teemane, Theo Gerber said: “We are grateful to the hospital and emergency response staff for their efforts to protect lives and to contain the blaze. We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of local farmers, the neighbourhood watch, and business owners for lending a helping hand.

“Unfortunately, the entire medical section has been destroyed by the fire, including all patient files held there, medical equipment, and the operating theatre, but the hospital kitchen, pharmacy, mortuary, and laundry sections remain intact.”

He said the hospital site is now cordoned off and under the supervision of a forensic team to ascertain the cause of the fire. Gerber said the hospital has been under renovation, but this fire will put the entire project on hold.

“The DA will engage the provincial government to allocate emergency funding to the project so that we can have this important medical centre fully operational again in the shortest time possible.

“In the meantime, medical doctors and professional staff will be on call and offer treatment at all clinics as well as dispense all chronic medicine. Maternity services will only be available at the Utlwanang Clinic which operates 24/7,” said Gerber.

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By STAFF REPORTER

ANC Interim Provincial Committee in North West said it will take harsh steps against leaders who interfered with candidate lists. This comes after many communities across the province embarked on protests amid allegations that some leaders removed the names of those elected by communities and replaced them with their favourties.

Disgruntled ANC members from Klerksdorp, Taung, Moretele, Mahikeng and Rustenburg including other areas, took to the streets while others marched straight to the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House in Johannesburg urging the party’s national leadership to intervene.

However, ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke said: “There were challenges on only 16 wards out of 403 where candidates were not filled up before the IEC deadline. Except that challenge, we have already filled all other wards with the names coming from our communities at a level of ward councillors.

“The bigger challenge we are experiencing is at a level of PR councillors. However, we are currently addressing that and we are grateful that IEC has extended the registration of candidate lists. So, we will use this opportunity to correct were there were wrongdoings.”

He further said as ANC, they acknowledge that there are challenges, but they are addressing them accordingly. Chauke added that they anticipate that the outcome will be desirable and bring the happy ending to many community members.

“This new process that the ANC has embarked on supposed to be a corruption-free process, but we still have those elements who want to take chances and distort the outcome of the communities.

“We are severely dealing with them and they will be hauled before the disciplinary hearing for misrepresenting the views of the communities. We have compiled a list of those comrades and we are on course,” said Chauke.

He said they will visit these affected communities and clarify the matter. Chauke also said they are still learning the new system and added that there have been challenges within the IEC itself.

Meanwhile, the IEC announced that the voters’ registration will take place between 18 and 19 September 2021. This comes after the apex court ruled that Local Government Elections should take place between 31 October and 1 November 2021.

However, this left mixed reactions amongst political parties. Some believe that elections will not be transparent and fair because they did not have enough time to campaign due to COVID-19 regulations posed by the government, while others believe that elections should forge ahead as scheduled.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The family of Kodisang in Rooiwal village near Taung was left dejected after the drowning of their son, Thabang Kodisang. According to information, Kodisang (15) and his peers were swimming at Modisa Lodge on Saturday afternoon when the atrocity happened.

The father of the deceased, Thabiso “The Bull” Keameditse said: “We are crestfallen about what has happened. Thabang was still young and very bright, so as a family we are sad about the whole incident.

“We will be meeting with the lodge management to map the way forward. Thabang had a very bright future ahead of him. Funeral preparations are underway and we highly appreciate unwavering support we have received from friends as the bereaved family,” Keameditse said.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani urged people to apply cautious measures when swimming. Funani said supervision is the very best way to help prevent kids from getting injured.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of inquest after a boy drowned while swimming with other kids on Saturday afternoon,” she said.

According to the www.arrivealive.co.za website, drowning ranked second as the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children. It says children less than a year old are most likely to drown in bathtubs, buckets, or toilets.

“Children need to be monitored at all times no matter the size of the pool or location where they encounter water. It is up to the parents to do everything possible not only to exercise parental supervision.

“Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, and it does not only occur during times of flooding or rough seas but in our swimming pools,” said the website.

It added that anyone can have a water-related accident and be at risk of drowning— even children who know how to swim. It says it is not only small children who are at risk, but males are much more likely to become victims of drowning.

“Risk-taking, overconfidence in swimming ability, and alcohol use may play a significant role in water deaths by drowning. Your health and the risk of drowning and the swimmer should be aware of how his body reacts to the temperature of the water. When the body gets cold blood shunts to the core, weakening arms and legs, which then lose the strength of power.

“A swimmer, who feels tired or bloated should rather rest and stay out of the water. We need to supervise as actively as possible. Parents should avoid distractions when children are near water and give them all of their attention. Even strong swimmers need adult supervision. Insist on life jackets for children who can’t swim.”

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) said it is ready to contest the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE) and will now start to activate and mobilise voters to participate. F4SD president, Dr Mbahare Kekana outlined his party’s manifesto and also unveiled his party’s mayoral candidates for 2021 LGE in Zeerust on Wednesday.

“As F4SD, we are over the moon about the ground-breaking verdict of the ConCourt on the matter of postponement of the LGE. We are excited about the outcomes as it is in the interest of our community. This shows that the justice system of South Africa is at times, objective and fair.

“Through this victory, the F4SD has shown that we are a party that cares about the livelihood of the people in non-privileged communities. We are excited that our people will be able to go to the polls on 1 November 2021 and vote for change so that service delivery can be given to them on time,” Kekana said.

He said his party will contest elections in eight provinces except for Western Cape and urge the people of South Africa to give his party a chance by voting for it. Kekana added that as F4SD, they give assurance that people will get better services in those 61 municipalities and 358 wards they contesting.  

“As when other political parties were quiet and willing to see you suffer longer due to non-service delivery, we are the party that stood up and was ready to stand for what we believed was right for the people on the ground.

“As you have seen from our victory against the IEC, F4SD is a party that lives by its pillars which are non-violence, electoral reform and grassroots democracy. We opposed the IEC’s bid to postpone the local government elections without any violence or malice. We stood firm for the electoral reform for the benefit of the grassroots democracy,” said Kekana.

He said F4SD is ready to serve the people through its other four pillars which are housing and sanitation, environment sustainability, progressive educational system, economic and social justice. Kekana said if electorates vote for them, they will endeavour hard to ensure that there are investors in municipalities.

“We are aiming at turning every unused building into a skill development centres to address the high rate of drop-outs, we will ensure that we build proper roads and introduce by-laws which protect our local products.

“F4SD will also give out housing vouchers worth R200 000 to complete unfinished housing projects. We will also open teachers’ colleges, build the university in every region, ensure that libraries operate 24 hours and there is a 24 hour Wi-Fi centres,” he said.

Kekana added that they will ensure that clinics are opened for 24 hours a day. He said door-to-door delivery of medication to elders from the age of 80 to 120 will be implemented.

“We will ensure that we abolish the age limit during employment and job opportunities. The same way we were able to stand for justice against the IEC, we will stand the same way for you. Our fight with IEC is far from over, as we are also going to challenge Political Party Funding Act (PPFA),” said Kekana.

He said they will also challenge the IEC to give voting opportunities to South Africans either studying or working abroad. Kekana said introduced their mayoral candidates and said all those nominated went through rigorous processes of capacity building and interviews.

“Our mayoral candidates are old and young and possess relevant qualifications and experience gained over the years,” he said.

Meanwhile, COGSTA Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that LGE will take place on 1 November 2021.

F4SD mayoral candidates are:

·         Pontsho Mafethe- (Ratlou Local Municipality)

·         Thabo Nkashe- (Ditsobotla Local Municipality)

·         Merriam Mosiako- (City of Matlosana)

·         Mika Moeti- (Greater Taung Local Municipality)

·         Julius Melanzi- (Rustenburg Local Municipality)

·         Phumla Kgatsi- (Mahikeng Local Municipality)

·         Sechaba Sekhoto- (Madibeng Local Municipality)

·         Sonnyboy Calvert- (Maquassi Local Municipality)

·         Ntuthuzelo George- (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality)

·         Lenyatso Legabe- (Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality)

·         Masego Kodisang- (Moretele Local Municipality)

·         Mbahare Kekana- (Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality)

Romeo Matjila- (JB Marks Local Municipality)

Vuzi Lusenga- (The City of Tshwane)   

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The family at Khudutlou village in Taung is still in disbelief after the untimely death of their daughter. This comes after the lifeless body of Gosego Modise (19) was found in an unused pit latrine with stabbing wounds on Saturday morning.

It is alleged that a Grade 11 learner at Seabo High School embarked on a drinking spree with a man who is known to the community on Friday night. However, things allegedly took a wrong turn after Gosego refused to go with him to his house and had sex.  

One source said: “This guy dragged Gosego to his house where a fight allegedly ensued. He assaulted Gosego and allegedly raped her. He allegedly stabbed her and disposed of her body in a toilet next door.

“Gosego’s body was discovered by children on Saturday morning while checking the eggs laid by their hens. The parents in that house were not there and these children called for help. The police were called and Gosego’s body was taken to the mortuary.”

According to information, the suspect in this matter who had biting wounds was taken in for questioning by the police and later released pending investigations. It is alleged that Gosego gnawed him while trying to defend herself.

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani could not confirm whether the deceased was raped or not.

“At this stage, we can only confirm that we are investigating a murder case. A woman was found dead inside the toilet next door.  We have not made any arrest and investigating into the matter continues,” Funani said.

Meanwhile, the ANC Women’s League in North West said it is shocking over the atrocity.  

ANCWL acting provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “Children are required to be at home especially at night, but it gives no one any right to harm them in any way if they are not.

“In fact, it is every adult’s responsibility to protect and bring children home safe every time. The family says Gosego received a call that lured her to go out on Friday night where she never returned and rather found murdered on Saturday morning.”

Lenkopane calls on the justice system to leave no stone unturned to ensure a conviction and maximum punishment for the murderer. She added that they will give the aggrieved family the necessary support during this difficult time and call on the community of Khudutlou and other areas in the region to rise against incidents that seek to harm women and children including all the vulnerable and weak groups in their locale.

“Observing all the Covid-19 protocols, the league will gather in court during the appearance of the suspect and call for no bail to be granted to him,” she said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The former North West Premier and ANC provincial chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo has been given a salvation to redeem himself after the ANC National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) reversed his 5-year suspension.

Embattled Mahumapelo along with the acting secretary of the ANC Women’s League in North West, Bitsa Lenkopane, were suspended from the ruling party by the ANC Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC) for misconduct.

However, the ANC National Disciplinary Committee acting chairperson, Nocawe Mafu said in a statement that the interest of justice was not taken into consideration when they were suspended.

On 27 April 2021, the North West Provincial Disciplinary Committee found Mahumapelo and Lenkopane guilty of misconduct, suspended them for five years and directed them to submit themselves for remedial guidance.

However, both Mahumapelo and Lenkopane were not present when the PDC took its decision and subsequently applied to the National Disciplinary Committee to review the decision of the PDC.

“On 25 June 2021, the NDC gave both the ANC and the charged members and their representatives an opportunity to present their respective cases and sent it’s written finding to both parties on the same day.

“The NDC findings was that, both review applications of Mahumapelo and Lenkopane were upheld to afford them an opportunity to state their case and conduct their defence. The interest of justice for both charged members and the ANC would best be served if the matter was referred back to the PDC for re-hearing in terms of Rule 25.23.4 of the ANC constitution,” Mafu said.

She further said the PDC was directed to finalise the matter within 15 days and both Mahumapelo and Lenkopane were required to give their full cooperation. However, Mafu added that the PDC did not finalise the matter within 15-day time limit prescribed by the NDC.

“In light of the development, the charged members approached the NDC for a directive. The NDC convened on 16 August 2021 and decided that the PDC should be afforded an opportunity to explain why the 15-day time limit was not complied with.

“On 19 August 2021, the PDC told the to the NDC that it interpreted “re-hearing” to mean restarting the process. It activated the process de novo (from the beginning) and re-served the charge sheet on the charged members and gave the required period of 14-day notice before it commenced disciplinary proceedings on the 15^th day,” she said.

According to information, the PDC also alleged that the NDC had no powers to refer the matter back to the PDC for re-hearing and consequently adopted the review that the NDC had acted unconstitutionally.

The PDC also said only part of the constitution it could find which dealt with re-hearing was in Rule 25.30 which gave the NEC the power to refer a matter back to the appropriate disciplinary committee for re-hearing.

In a letter sent to the NDC, the PDC states: “The period of 15 days stipulated by the NDC was both impractical and unconstitutional because the ANC constitution does not confer such power on the NDC.

“By prescribing 15 days, the NDC acted unconstitutionally because Rule 25.50 provides that disciplinary proceedings shall be finalised by the disciplinary committee concerned within 6 months from the date that a notice of the charge was delivered to the charged members or his or her representative.”

However, Mafu refuted the PDC claims and said to avoid any misunderstanding, the NDC had set out the various steps to be followed by the PDC.

“The charge sheet reserved on both Mahumapelo and Lenkopane on 26 June 2021 will stand and there is no need to re-serve the charge sheet. The record of proceedings of 11 July 2021, where the charged members raised points in limine will stand as part of the record and the charged members will not be permitted to raise the same points in limine going forward.

“The PDC has six months to finalise the new disciplinary proceedings which it commenced on 26 June 2021 and that period will end on 25 December 2021. The same members of the PDC will be eligible to re-hear the matter because it will be the first time they will be hearing evidence on the substantive issues from both the ANC and the charged members,” she said.

Mafu further said no prejudice will be suffered by the charged members. She said the rules of natural justice must be afforded to the charged members to cross examine ANC witnesses and lead evidence of their own.

“Similarly, the ANC would have the right to cross examine the charged members (if they elect to testify) and witnesses. The PDC bearing finalised on 27 April 2021 is tendered a nullity. Consequently, the guilty and 5-year suspension imposed on both Mahumapelo and Lenkopane fall away and they are required to resume their responsibilities as public representatives in their respective government institutions in which they serve as ANC deployees (if their suspension precluded them from doing so)

“If the PDC finds the charged members guilty, they may appeal or receive the PDC findings to the NDC as provided for in Rule 25.35 and 25.36 of the ANC constitution. Where a charged member has appealed against or applied to review the decision of the PDC, the ANC, as the complaint has the right to cross appeal or oppose the review application (Rule 25.37 to 25.40),” said Mafu.

She said in terms of Rule 25.37, the ANC has the right to appeal against the decision and sanction imposed by the PDC. Mafu said any decision made of the PDC and/or the NDC will be subject to review by the NEC in terms of Rules 25.29 to 25.31 of the ANC constitution to satisfy itself that procedural fairness was afforded to the charged members.

Meanwhile, Lenkopane said the decision by the NDC does not call for celebration but rather for unity. She said as a disciplined member of the party, she will abide to any decision.

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