/ 20 November 2012

ANC: Put disruptive members behind bars

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu.

"We have got a team of about 18 NEC [national executive committee] members all over the place who are dealing with ill-discipline in the nominations process," ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said on Tuesday.

"If they need to initiate disciplinary measures, they will do so through the relevant structures. If they need to call the police, they will do so as well."

Mthembu was commenting on a report in the Star on Tuesday that a prominent ANC member allegedly threatened to shoot his fellow Gauteng branch members following a disagreement over the nomination process.

The branch was holding its nomination conference prior to the provincial conference, and ahead of the party's elective conference in Mangaung in December.

Mthembu said he was not aware of the incident.

"We do not condone such actions. If a member does that, then they belong behind bars."

On Monday ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the NEC team was "actively dealing with complaints with the mandate to resolve them".

"All of this is intended to minimise queries in the conference [in Mangaung] to the barest minimum."

The Star reported that the incident took place at the Adelaide Tambo branch, Olivienhoutbosch, Pretoria.

The disagreement between members erupted over claims that the audited membership for the branch had been tampered with.

There was reportedly conflict between members supporting a second term for President Jacob Zuma, and those who wanted Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to replace him.

The branch's nominations process was postponed, and its leadership lodged a formal complaint at the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday.

The City Press reported on Sunday that the ANC had proposed an amendment to its constitution to allow it to immediately expel members convicted of fraud, theft, or corruption. – Sapa