By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) in Mangaung has expelled eight of its councillors who colluded with opposition parties to vote in the DA’s speaker candidate, Maryke Davies, for the Mangaung Metro Municipal Council.
The ANC Mangaung regional chairperson, Lawrance Mathae, who lost to Davies, on Friday announced that eight councillors, including Deputy Mayor Mapaseka Nokoane-Mothibi, have been expelled from the party with immediate effect.
The eight councillors, who have been expelled, are former Speaker Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo, who resigned about two weeks ago, Patrick Monyakoane, Chabeli Rampai, Mpho Mokoakoa, Lehlohonolo Moqolo, Lelala Makoa and Puseletso Seleke.
Three others, also found to be, in defiance of the ANC, were said to have demonstrated great remorse and promised never to defy the party. They were let off with a warning.
During a media briefing held at the party’s headquarters at Kaizer Sebothelo House in Bloemfontein, Mathae said the councillors were expelled as per the party’s constitution. They have the right to appeal the verdict.
Mathae also announced that the party has referred the matter of the council sitting, during which Davies was elected as the speaker, for legal advice to take it to court.
“The Regional Executive Committee (REC) takes note of and is in concurrence with the statement of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), which has raised the illegality of the council sitting on 29 March, which we are equally convinced was procedurally flawed and its outcomes, and therefore, borders on potentially illegal. As indicated by the ANC PEC, the REC will also await the legal counsel and advise to determine the appropriate remedy on this matter,” Mathae added.
The ANC Secretary-General (SG), Fikile Mbalula, vowed that the party will do all in its power to get to the bottom of which party members voted with the opposition in the Mangaung Metro.
Mbalula said they will not harbour people within the party ranks who go against the mandate of the ANC and vote with the opposition.
“We are fully aware of the fact that the people’s mandate has seriously been sabotaged in Mangaung by delinquent ANC councillors, giving the mandate to the DA. They do not deserve it. So, we will go to the people who have elected us if the need arises. If some are prepared to repent, we will look at it case by case but the incorrigible ones have to face consequences. They must be disciplined. We have done that in Mkhondo recently, in Mpumalanga. We have done that and we went to the people and won. We are now in control of Mkhondo.
Mangaung Municipality became the first metro to be placed under administration. The municipality was under provincial care for almost two years, before it was placed under national administration.
