The recent conference and elections of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) were unconstitutional and would not be condoned, ousted president Simon Mathysen said on Tuesday.
”The fact that Nafcoc structures ‘federal council members’ were excluded from voting is shameful and should not be hidden or downplayed,” Mathysen said in a statement.
”A golden opportunity was missed to unite the organisation after the Pretoria High Court judge encouraged both parties to settle their differences. The deviation by (current Nafcoc president Patrice) Motsepe from the settlement is regrettable and does not solve the Nafcoc unity problem.”
Motsepe was elected Nafcoc president at the 37th annual conference at Sun City in the North West. He was not opposed.
The Sun City conference went ahead after an out-of-court settlement was reached on Thursday between the organisers, led by Motsepe, and a group including Mathysen, ousted secretary-general Sabelo Macingwane and Western Cape president Themba Pasiwe.
Mathysen’s group had asked the court to prevent Nafcoc’s 37th annual conference, but finally agreed that the meeting could go ahead.
Mathysen’s statement said the non-participation or refusal by Motsepe to abide by the settlement made a mockery of the settlement.
”This has left us with no other option but to reluctantly pursue the court action and call for a real Nafcoc annual general meeting and this shall be informed by the Nafcoc structures.
However Nafcoc chief executive Sipho Mseleku told Sapa: ”Nafcoc’s elections over the weekend were free and fair and all its structures and sectors were adequately represented.”
”Mr Mathysen and his group have a democratic right to go to any court and do whatever they want to do. The Nafcoc unity committee at the time led by Patrice Motsepe complied 101% with the court settlement which was reached.
”The elections were free and fair, with the entire process without any flaws. We complied with the Nafcoc constitution, the counsel’s resolutions and with the court settlement.”
Mseleku said the court settlement required that Mathysen co-chair the meeting with Motsepe at the Federal Council Meeting and AGM and this took place.
”The fact that Mathysen is unhappy with the outcome of the election is regrettable, and we must separate the situation where people want to confuse the public. More than 1 800 delegates from all over South Africa attended this conference and number of people voted.
”We are very confident that no reasonable judge will give judgment in favour of Mathysen and his group.”
Mathysen was not nominated for a position at the Nafcoc meeting. – Sapa