The African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo says it will continue to implement the party’s step-aside policy against members implicated in corruption and criminal cases without favour.
This follows the meeting between the provincial party structure and the National Working Committee (NWC) to give feedback on the state of the province, where it’s emerged that four ANC officials were recently ordered to step aside. The party says it will also take action against councillors who defy the party’s positions.
The ANC officials who were ordered to step aside, include former Treasurer Danny Msiza, Sekhukhune district executive mayor, Julia Mathebe, who have been implicated in the VBS saga.
ANC MPL and chair-of-chairs in the legislature Tolly Mashamaite has been implicated in the criminal case, that of, the murder of two ANC leaders in the troubled Mogalakwena municipality.
ANC Lepelle-Nkumpi executive member and branch chairperson Sabulone Mphofela was also ordered to step aside over corruption charges, while William Motlokwa, an exco member in Lephalale municipality was ordered to vacate his position.
ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka explains further: “There’s a case that involves Comrade Tolly Mashamaite from Waterberg, who was the chair of chairs at the Limpopo legislature. He has been made to step aside on that responsibility as a chair of chairs. Comrade Julia Mathebe whom because of VBS related criminal charges she has been made to step aside as the regional chairperson of the ANC and as the mayor of Sekhukhune district municipality. So there is no exception and we’re fully on course in making sure that whoever member and leader or representative of the ANC is in the wrong side of the law or is attending to criminal proceedings, they will be made to step aside without any exception.”
Machaka adds that the party is taking actions against 13 ANC councillors in the Lephalale municipality, who have failed to toe the party line in the election of the mayor.
“The provincial disciplinary committee of the ANC had already found five of the councillors guilty of cross misconduct for having defined the party. They have been recommended for a period of five years suspension from the ANC, as well as the removal in their responsibility as either Ward Councillors or PR counsellors. We have also noted that the current mayor of Lephalale municipality is not a decision of the ANC. And to that effect, her and other councillors who continue to defy the position of the ANC will be subjected to disciplinary proceedings without any favour.”
The ANC is concerned that the factions within its councillors in Lephalale is causing instability thus affecting service provisions.
