Factionalism rocks North West ANC
2012-06-06 19:00
Mmanaledi Mataboge, City Press
Johannesburg - The ANC in the North West is dragging its provincial secretary, Kabelo Mataboge, and nine other party members before the party’s national disciplinary committee (NDC).
They include two provincial executive committee (PEC) members and five MECs who attended Sunday's provincial general council (PGC), which was not sanctioned by the provincial leadership.
The ANC's provincial working committee (PWC), which met yesterday, resolved to write a report to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe in which the 10 names of people who should be censored are mentioned.
They are accused of anarchy and seeking to destabilise the party by convening an unconstitutional PGC.
The Sunday gathering, addressed by Mataboge, among others, called for the removal of provincial chairperson Supra Mahumapelo, deputy provincial secretary Gordon Kegakilwe, provincial treasurer Philly Mapulane and spokesperson Kenny Morolong.
Another PEC member, Matthew Wolmarans, a former Rustenburg mayor who is also Mahumapelo's ally, was also added to the list of those who should be toppled.
Monday’s PEC meeting, which described the Sunday gathering as an "unconstitutional meeting" convened by "unknown elements", said the gathering was an attempt by some ANC leaders to destabilise the party "by undermining the PEC and the ANC constitution".
MECs for human settlements, public safety and liaison Nono Maloyi (a former provincial chairperson who was also speaker of the legislature); agriculture and rural development Desbo Mohono (who is also a PEC member); economic development Motlalepule Rosho; Raymond Elisha of Public Works, Roads and Transport; and Finance MEC Paul Sebegoe are set to be disciplined.
Another PEC member who’s on the list for disciplinary measures is Mmoloki Pheelwane.
ANC provincial spokesperson Kenny Morolong said the Sunday meeting was an effort to carry out “disruption of proper functioning of the ANC structures through anarchy and intimidation”.
For their part, those who attended the meeting said they represented branches that simply wanted to defend their “rights and authority, which have been eroded and undermined by the provincial leadership”.
Groups consisting of young people have for a few months now accused Mahumapelo of disbanding legitimate branches and reconstituting them with those who support him.
The majority of delegates at the Sunday meeting were young people.
Battles
An ANC provincial source close to Mataboge said the provincial secretary was merely responding to a request of the branches when he agreed to give a go-ahead to the PGC.
Three PEC members have, however, told City Press that Mataboge did not discuss any plans or a request for a special PGC with his provincial leadership counterparts.
The North West ANC is suffering from severe factional battles that have been inherited from one provincial leadership to the next, but the latest rifts are also fuelled by the ANC’s internal battle for either a new leadership in Mangaung in December or retaining Jacob Zuma as president.
While Mataboge, an ANC Youth League graduate, is a known supporter of the league’s drive to replace Zuma with his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, Mahumapelo is said to be backing Zuma's re-election.
Mahumapelo and Mataboge have, however, been at each other's throats since last year, almost immediately after they were elected at a Rustenburg provincial congress.
Both are a product of merged slates because none of their leadership wish lists commanded enough of a majority to win the congress.
Those close to Mataboge said he has always been unhappy with attempts by Mahumapelo (himself a former provincial secretary) to impose his wishes and that of his faction on the office of the secretary.
Mataboge is yet to attend any meeting of ANC structures, including the PEC meeting that took place on Monday and Tuesday’s PWC meeting.
