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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 11 2012 00:22 | LAST UPDATED Feb 11 2012 00:22 |
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Former African National Congress (ANC) chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota will receive a letter "soon" informing him of his suspension from the ruling party, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. The ANC's national working committee (NWC) announced in a statement to the media on Monday evening that Lekota, a former defence minister, and Mluleki George, his former deputy, had been suspended. But Lekota responded by saying he would not believe the news "until I get a letter from the ANC". "They will receive the letters soon," said ANC spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi on Tuesday, declining to specify when. "It can be today, it can be after [the national executive committee meeting]." Lekota told supporters in Uitenhage that his suspension would be invalid in terms of the ANC's constitution, but Mnisi disagreed. Lekota said: "If there is such a thing, I do not believe it. You know why? Because the constitution of the ANC says that no member can be punished before you hold a hearing." Mnisi, however, denied that the NWC broke ANC rules. "They [Lekota and George] must know how the disciplinary hearings of the ANC are conducted ... Lekota chooses to misunderstand that clause," said Mnisi, quoting from rule 25.12 C. It states that "exceptional circumstances, as determined by the national working committee or national disciplinary committee or the PWC [provincial working committee], as the case may be, may warrant an immediate decision of temporary suspension of a member without eliciting the comment of such members".  CONTINUES BELOW Mnisi said both Lekota and George would be afforded the opportunity to respond at a disciplinary hearing at a date yet to be determined. The suspension meant that neither were allowed to participate in any ANC proceedings or "call any gatherings of the ANC". A special meeting of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) would be held on Wednesday to further discuss their suspension. Lekota last week announced his intention to hold a convention to discuss the possibility of forming a new political party. Since then, he has addressed several public meetings of disgruntled ANC members in different provinces. He recently resigned as defence minister after the ANC leadership ousted Thabo Mbeki as president of the country. In Monday's statement, the NWC said the ANC could not allow its structures to be used "for purposes of undermining and betraying the organisation". "While the ANC respects the right of any South African to form a political party, the NWC reiterates the fundamental principle that all ANC members have voluntarily undertaken to respect its decisions, internal processes and democratically elected structures." Grievances or concerns did not give any members a licence to defy decisions of ANC structures, to destabilise the organisation or to engage in factional activity, the NWC said. Lekota met ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa on Monday morning to discuss his concerns over the party. Afterwards, Lekota told the South African Broadcasting Corporation the meeting was not helpful. -- Sapa TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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