Action against Prince 'a farce'
2005-05-05 10:51
Ronel Bester
Cape Town - The disciplinary process the African National Congress (ANC) instituted against Truman Prince is a farce and prominent people are protecting Prince, various independent sources within the party claim.
It became clear on Wednesday that the discord about the Prince issue is directly related to the mounting power struggle between Ebrahim Rasool, ANC leader in the Western Cape and premier of the province, and Mcebisi Skwatsha, the ANC's provincial secretary.
Questions are being raised over the slow progress of the process and why Prince's alleged actions over the past month and criminal charges against him do not form part of the investigation.
The Skwatsha camp is even making mention of a "conspiracy". Skwatsha denied this on Wednesday, saying he was the person leading the ANC's disciplinary process against Prince and making sure steps are taken.
Prince, the municipal manager of the Central Karoo district municipality, was suspended from the ANC 11 weeks ago.
He again managed to avoid suspension from his post on Tuesday when the ANC-controlled council postponed making a decision on his future to May 27 despite a condemning report against him.
Elize Visser, the speaker of the council, justified the decision by saying the council has not had enough time to study the report.
Prince will appear on Saturday.
Skwatsha confirmed that the charge against Prince was still misconduct and was related to a Special Assignment programme broadcast in February.
In the programme, Prince was seen acting in an unbecoming manner towards young women in Beaufort West.
Skwatsha could not say why the disciplinary action had not been expanded to encompass the latest allegations and said such a decision had to be made by the disciplinary committee.
He said criticism that the process was being delayed because of the ANC's upcoming provincial conference was "nonsense".
'Leave me alone'
The provincial minister for local government, Marius Fransman, said he and the premier issued an order on Wednesday to seek legal advice on the provincial government's powers and possibly legal action.
"We cannot have a situation where there is anarchy in local government," he said.
Prince was in the public gallery of the provincial legislature on Wednesday afternoon when the MEC for sport and culture, Chris Stali, delivered his budget speech.
When reporters approached him for comment, Visser, who was with him, intervened and said: "Leave Mr Prince alone."
Prince repeated a number of times: "No, no. Just leave me alone."
Meanwhile, it has come to light that the district municipality has appointed David Maans, Prince's confidant, on a contract basis to handle, among other things, the disciplinary hearings against Prince.
Maans will be subject to the code of conduct for municipal officials, which determines, among other things, that officials may not act in a way that jeopardises the credibility of the municipality.
- Die Burger