Divided, dysfunctional and weak. These are just some of the descriptions of the ANC’s caucus in Parliament under the leadership of its chief whip, Mathole Motshekga.
The core of the ANC’s representation in Parliament wields extensive influence over the business of the institution, thanks to the party’s large majority. But some of its own members say it is becoming “an embarrassment” and it has raised eyebrows among parliamentary officials and opposition leaders.
Motshekga dismissed these concerns this week, saying the picture of a body in crisis was painted by a “mischievous group” of MPs within the caucus.
A lawyer and academic, Motshekga is married to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, and both were early supporters of Jacob Zuma in his ascent to power. His political career includes a brief period as Gauteng premier until former president Thabo Mbeki abruptly fired him in 1999.
A novice in Parliament when he became chief whip in 2009, he was a surprise choice. And he has presided over a caucus repeatedly criticised for rampant absenteeism from parliamentary committees and sittings of the National Assembly. Members also fail to prepare properly for meetings, critics claim, resulting in poor departmental and ministerial accountability.
‘Sour relationships’
The Sunday Times recently reported that an alleged sour relationship between Motshekga and deputy chief whip Bulelani Magwanishe had spilled over into the workings of the National Assembly. Motshekga was apparently not informed that Thaba Mufamadi, the chair of the portfolio finance committee, would be unavailable to present two proposals to the House and a suitable replacement was not found in time.
Shortly after this, the National Assembly could not pass the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill because not enough ANC MPs were present. But Motshekga denies there is any sourness between himself and Magwanishe. “I cannot understand the basis for these claims,” he told the Mail & Guardian. Magwanishe, meanwhile, refused to comment on the matter.
Busy work schedules have meant Motshekga and his deputy have spent substantial time away from Parliament since December, so there has been “no room to differ”, let alone have all-out battles, Motshekga said.
He simply could not harbour grievances against his “right-hand man” and the person “who in my absence takes full charge” of caucus business, he said. Motshekga claimed he was not responsible for the hiccup over Mufamadi’s non-appearance. “It would not involve me. My deputy is responsible for the functionality and operations, for the study groups and clusters who make recommendations as to who must go and present in the House,” he said.
Poor discipline and communication
The deputy chief whip, the programming whips and the house whips “are the people who have got to ensure that people who are supposed to speak are available”, Motshekga said. But Motshekga’s critics argue that poor discipline and communication are symptoms of a deeper malaise within the caucus. The M&G spoke to a range of sources, including ANC parliamentarians, senior ANC members, parliamentary officials and opposition leaders.
Relations with the opposition, never good at the best of times, had deteriorated markedly under Motshekga, three senior opposition party leaders said. Unusually, none would speak on the record, each saying that would further strain already difficult relations.
The multiparty chief whips’ forum has become the “bane of our lives” and “utterly painful”, said two, while a third said the “spirit of meanness” towards opposition parties hampered the smooth running of the institution. “[Motshekga] is an academic who spends his time pursuing his own interests. He exercises no authority over his caucus and Parliament is the worse for it,” said an opposition MP.
Other common complaints included indecisiveness, poor preparation for meetings and an inability to follow up matters arising from meetings. ANC MPs also expressed concern about the performance of the caucus. A veteran MP who has served under previous chief whips said caucus meetings were hardly held any more.
“This is a problem. Under previous chief whips, it was the exception not to have caucus meetings, now it is the exception when we do have caucus,” the MP said. “The lack of preparedness [for committees] is also a problem. It results in one of two things: either departments get away with things or extra work is dumped on a few committee members.”
Themba Godi spoke to the M&G as chairperson of the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa). “My sense is that the chief whip’s office, since 2009, has developed some gaps and could do with strengthening and streamlining,” he said. “I have found more bureaucratic hurdles when seeking to engage with that office than I have in the past.” Godi was concerned about the deployment of relatively junior ANC cadres to Scopa.
“The juniorisation of the ANC representation is a strategic blunder, which demonstrates either a terrible oversight or a plan to micromanage the ANC contingent on the committee,” he said. Motshekga denied this, saying the chief whips forum met regularly and he maintained excellent relations with opposition MPs. As for disciplinary issues such as absenteeism, he said this was hardly unique to the ANC, or, for that matter, to South Africa’s Parliament.
“As the ANC, we are generally happy with the performance of our MPs,” he said. But the fact that the National Assembly was unable to pass an Act due to absenteeism, was “totally unacceptable”.
Processes were already in place to find out which MPs were absent without permission, following which “action would be taken” to remedy the situation. Motshekga’s advocates note that when he arrived in Parliament he was given the unenviable task of trimming down a bloated staff contingent and this created much unhappiness and resentment.
Nevertheless, criticism that he is utterly unsuited to his role persists and has prompted speculation that Luthuli House might be forced to intervene in caucus operations.
A senior ANC member and government office bearer said the ailing performance of the caucus was widely recognised, but it was not clear whether Luthuli House would take action because Parliament was not seen as a major power centre within the party. Motshekga reports directly to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
Asked whether the concerns had reached him, Mantashe refused to comment and referred questions to Motshekga’s office. Motshekga said it was the same “mischievous group that suggests a need for intervention”. “Luthuli House can’t take decisions on the basis of gossip,” he said.