ANC defectors join opposition

2008-10-17 10:42

Montsho Matlala

Polokwane - Twenty-one card-carrying ANC members have reportedly joined the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo's Mopani district.

Provincial spokesperson for the DA, Laban Malatji, would not name the ANC defectors, saying some of them held prominent positions.

"But I can tell you we are officially launching branches in Thabazimbi and Waterberg next week because of large numbers of ANC members joining our party," he said.

Provincial organiser of the Azanian Peoples Organisation (Azapo) Dammie Pule also claimed that three ANC members in the Waterberg district municipality, two from Mogalakwena, one from Vhembe and one from Mopani had joined Azapo.

Big fish and ordinary members

"Some of them were chairpersons of portfolio committees. Apart from these big fish, there are ordinary members who come to us daily," he said.

The United Democratic Movement's (UDM) only member of the provincial legislature, Alpheus Makobe, said ANC members were also interested in joining the UDM.

"I can tell you there is one prominent member who came to me last week looking for a political home. But I was surprised to see him a few days later attending Terror Lekota’s rally in the Eastern Cape. I then asked myself if this man is an opportunist?" he said.

Aubrey Ngwatle, provincial spokesperson of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) claimed 200 members including one member of the executive of the ANC branch in Burgersfort had joined the PAC.

Chairperson of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) Reverend Modiba Sedibane said not only politicians were calling his party to see if they could join, but also government employees in the departments of education and water affairs, the Capricorn district municipality and Maruleng local municipality.

On Thursday, Sydney Monyela tendered his resignation from the ANC after serving as the secretary of Lesholong branch in Phalaborwa.

Undemocratic processes in the ANC

"Now I have an option, together with six members of the branch who left with me, to join the DA or Terror Lekota’s convention. We are fed up with undemocratic practises within the ANC, the organisation I joined in 1994," he said.

Solly Mkhatswa, an employee of the Greater Tzaneen local municipality who was beaten by Joe Maswanganyi in the running for provincial secretary of the ANC in June, also announced on Wednesday that he was available to help Terror Lekota prepare for his national convention next month.

He claimed other ANC members would go with him. Lekota is organising a convention of disgruntled ANC members who have chosen to leave the ruling party and possibly form a new one in protest against the way in which former state president Thabo Mbeki was sacked.

Spokesperson for the ANC in Limpopo, Ishmael Kgetjepe, accused opposition parties of exaggerating about the number of defectors in order to attract publicity.

"And you journalists are falling into their trap," said Kgetjepe, adding that he had not received any official resignations from the ANC to date.

- African Eye