OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 7.00pm.
FORMER Pan Africanist Congress president Clarence Makwetu has been reinstated as a member of the party and as an MP, but will resign his seat with immediate effect and retire from active politics.
Makwetu was accused of sowing disunity in the PAC and his membership was suspended for three years in May 1997, after he rejected a party decision to replace him as its president. He was subsequently expelled from Parliament.
Makwetu instituted proceedings in the Cape High Court to overturn these decisions. However a face-saving out of court settlement was announced on Friday, in terms of which Makwetu will be reinstated.
Makwetu in turn undertook to resign as an MP, abide by the PAC’s constitution, refrain from addressing factional groups and strive to promote and achieve party unity.
Makwetu had indicated his intention to retire from active politics and his resignation as an MP had been accepted, the statement said.