ANC accused of selective morality by former speaker
Mtshali’s letter to the ANC PEC condemns the lack of action against councillors defying party directives, accusing the leadership of selective morality and bias.
A flag of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) flies outside a polling station in Langa, near Cape Town, on 1 November 2021, during South Africa’s local elections. Picture: Rodger Bosch / AFP
Former speaker of the Moses Kotane local municipality, Gugu Mtshali has accused the North West ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) of bias and selective morality by not acting against councillors who defy party rules.
She claimed some continued to defy instructions because they were protected by the provincial leadership.
Mtshali wrote strongly worded letter
Mtshali wrote a strongly worded letter to the PEC through provincial secretary Louis Diremelo and copied the correspondence to party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, complaining about its failure to act against councillors who defied party instructions.
Luthuli House asked the councillors not to employ a chief financial officer implicated in the VBS scandal, but they approved his appointment. Several ANC councillors reportedly boycotted the meeting to avoid endorsing the wrong resolution.
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Mtshali was asked to resign as speaker for alleged disruptive behaviour and said she was concerned about the PEC bias, lack of ethos and failure to embrace ANC organisational principles.
She claimed Maria Matshaba was selected to replace her against the advice of the Bojanala ANC regional executive committee.
Attempts to get comment from the ANC failed.
Attempts to get comment from ANC
Diremelo did not respond to questions, even after the deadline was extended at his request.
The ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping, did not respond either to a written query.
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VBS collapse
The former Venda homeland authorities initiated the Venda Building Society bank for a good purpose: depositing the savings of poor communities and pensioners. But under the new dispensation, the bank was identified as a cash cow to allegedly enrich some ANC officials and councillors who reportedly connived with bank top brass to steal money.
The bank’s officials allegedly issued fraudulent loans to some politicans as part of the looting spree that left the poor more desolate.
After the matter was exposed, the ANC instructed that all party members suspected of being involved in the VBS scandal be disciplined and not elected to party or state positions.
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