/ 4 July 2013

ANC and DA at loggerheads over who rules Tlokwe

Anc And Da At Loggerheads Over Who Rules Tlokwe

"The DA is consulting its legal team on the possibility of an interdict to end the illegal occupation and bring immediate stability to the municipality," the party's North West leader, Chris Hattingh, said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We intend to end the illegal occupation by the former mayor without delay."

Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Annette Combrink was voted in as the new mayor on Tuesday, the second time since November.

Hattingh said 29 councillors of all parties, including the ANC, unanimously voted to return Combrink to the position of mayor.

But the ANC sent a statement saying it would institute an inquiry into the matter. 

Expulsions
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Fourteen ANC councillors who voted to unseat Maphetle were expelled from the party on Wednesday. 

The ANC councillors were found guilty of "acting contrary to the directives" of the party and violating the ANC constitution, the North West provincial disciplinary committee said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Expulsion of the 14 comrades … was found suitable under the given circumstances and the continuing disrespect by the comrades," it said.

The decision to expel the group was made in a provincial disciplinary committee meeting held on Wednesday.

"As the ANC, we believe the outcome of this disciplinary hearing will serve as a learning curve to comrades who seek to undermine organisational processes and the ANC," said the party's acting provincial secretary Gordon Kegakilwe.

"The ANC has adopted a zero tolerance to ill-discipline from its members and will do everything possible to restore the dignity, image and integrity of the [party]."

The ANC claimed that 16 of its councillors participated in an irregular council meeting where they voted for Maphetle's unseating. – Sapa