The run-up to the ANC’s provincial conference has spawned new tensions, reports Rehana Rossouw
IN another salvo fired at the African National Congress’sleadership, the branch members in the Free State town of Bothaville this week condemned national leaders’ “arrogance” and nominated former premier Terror Lekota for the position of provincial chairman.
The ANC’s Bloemfontein branch had also nominated Lekota for the position last week. However, ANC Acting General Secretary Cheryl Carolus announced on Monday he would decline the nomination.
“The Bothaville branch nominates Lekota despite the statement of Cheryl Carolus that he will not contest the election. The arrogance, undemocratic and unconstitutional manner in which the top leadership has addressed the problem in the province makes a mockery of the ANC Constitution,” said Bothaville ANC general secretary Aupa Ramaisa.
“Unlike the premier imposed on the Free State [Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi], the provincial chairman will ultimately be elected by branches at the conference. The branches will be voting, not Carolus.”
Carolus had, however, said Lekota had informed the ANC national executive’s lekgotla last Sunday that he had after “long thought and consultation” decided not to make himself available for the position.
She said two other nominees for the position, former Free State chair Pat Matosa and former MEC for economic affairs Ace Magashule – whom the ANC redeployed to the National Assembly – would also not stand for election to the top five positions but would be eligible for election as ordinary members of the provincial executive committee.
Carolus said this was a “gesture on their side” to try to ensure the province could start after its provincial conference without the tensions which superceded it.
Lekota was sworn in as a member of the Senate this week in a move which is certain to see him elected as chairman of the National Council of Provinces, which is to replace the Senate next month.
He refused to discuss his nomination as ANC Free State chair, saying “I would rather not deal with party matters at this stage”.
The Free State provincial conference takes place from February 14 to 16 under the guidance of a task-group mandated by the ANC national executive committee (NEC) to restore political equilibrium to the province.
Task-group leader, Minister of Labour Tito Mboweni, said no disciplinary measures would be taken against the Bloemfontein branch, and that members acted out of ignorance when they nominated Lekota.
The ANC’s Constitution dealt with grievance procedures to be followed by branches, Mboweni said. “In this case, they forgot the Constitution.”
But angry Bloemfontein ANC members say their national leaders themselves have ignored the party’s Constitution by denying them the right to nominate Lekota as their chairman.
“We have observed with utter disappointment and shock the growing tendency by the present ANC leadership at national level to dish out posts and positions undemocratically to favourites instead of following the democratic election route,” said Bloemfontein ANC member Jones Bopape.
“Section 5.1 of the ANC constitution as adopted at the 1994 conference in Bloemfontein defines the rights of members and says among other things: `a member of the ANC shall have the right to take part in elections and be elected or appointed to any committee, structure, commission or delegation of the ANC’.
“The undemocratic action of the NEC in the Free State has created the impression that it has become a law unto itself to the point where it is the major violator of the Constitution instead of upholding it ardently.”
Lekota’s supporters have also attacked their leaders for remaining mum on the auditor general’s report into alleged corruption in the province. The report, released in December, found there had been unauthorised spending of R7,7-million in the provincial Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism while Magashule was in charge of its affairs.
“The contents of this report clearly documents substantial disregard for due process and proper procedure by individuals in positions of public trust,” Acting Auditor General JAJ Loots concluded. “It is clear that the interests of the taxpayer and that of good government have not been served in this instance.
Bothaville ANC members are aghast that Magashule would be available for election to the provincial executive committee before the implications of the auditor general’s report are considered.