The African Christian Democratic Party has suspended five of its candidates who allegedly offered the African National Congress control of the Theewaterskloof municipal council, in Caledon, in exchange for a list of demands.
They fell for an ”age-old trap” when they responded, in writing, to the ANC after it asked what they would want in return for their cooperation in controlling the council, said Western Cape ACDP chairperson Grant Haskin.
Their demands were so extravagant as to almost beggar belief, he said.
They included salaries of R500 000 a year, the scrapping of service arrears — and cellphones with built-in cameras.
Haskin ordered the letter retracted the day he heard about it — which was a day after it was sent — and the members concerned complied.
They also apologised to the ACDP’s provincial leadership. Haskin said the five were suspended on Thursday and would face a disciplinary hearing on April 6.
The party had only recently organised in the area and still had an interim leadership in place, he said. The interim branch chairperson was among those suspended.
Haskin said the five probably acted out of ignorance as ”not everyone who comes into the party knows its protocols, rules, and Constitution …”
However, they were under instruction to clear all decisions and communications with the provincial leadership, which they did not do.
”We will have the hearing. We take these things very seriously.”
Haskin said the ACDP won a single seat on the council. The councillor is not one of the five involved. – Sapa