Former Beaufort West mayor Truman Prince could be expelled from the African National Congress at the weekend, members of the ANC’s Western Cape provincial executive committee (PEC) said on Thursday.
Twenty-three members of the ANC in the Western Cape have already been expelled.
”We are not dealing with a clean face of the ANC, he’s actually been a blot in the image of the African National Congress,” said James Ngculu, chairperson of the PEC.
Earlier, provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha told reporters of the expulsion of the 23, including former Kannaland municipality mayor, Jeffrey Donson.
Former Mossel Bay councillor Harry Levendal and City of Cape Town councillors Trevor Tokwana, Mbongeni Ngombane, Nontsikelelo Nyakatya and David Sinaze were expelled after it was established that they had registered as candidates, or supported candidates, to oppose the ANC at the March 1 municipal elections.
Prince was expected to attend a disciplinary hearing with the other 23 on Wednesday evening, but apparently was not notified of the hearing.
”On Sunday we are expecting him to appear. If he doesn’t appear, having received the necessary notification, then the proceedings will proceed without him,” said Skwatsha.
He said the party did not want to lose members, but members were bound by the ANC constitution and were disciplined when this was broken.
”We think that we have acted, and acted properly.”
Asked how the expulsions of members, some from Khayelitsha, the largest single black voting block in Cape Town’s metropole, could affect the forthcoming elections, Skwatsha was upbeat.
”… There is no divided Khayelitsha. Khayelitsha is a base for the African National Congress and… remains to be strongly behind the ANC.”
Skwatsha said as in other townships, some people were removed from the ward councillor lists, but remained loyal members of the party.
However, it was some undisciplined members, such as the 23, who were expelled.
Ngculu stressed that the expelled members had caused confusion in the ranks and the communities they represented.
”They have no right at all [now] to speak as an ANC member or consult ANC members. They must speak in their own individual roles.”
Both Ngculu and Skwatsha expressed confidence that the ANC would for the first time win an outside majority in the municipal elections in Cape Town, and felt the expulsions would not distract from their focus on the elections. – Sapa