The African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Executive Committee in the Eastern
Cape held a virtual PEC meeting from Sunday, 21st March 2021 to Monday 22nd March 2021.
POLITICAL OVERVIEW:
The PEC meeting received and discussed a wide-ranging political overview presented by the Provincial Chairperson, Cde Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, which he stated that the PEC must begin to assess the progress we have made in carrying out the mandate and directives of the 8th Provincial Conference which amongst others included:
· Working vigorously towards turning the ANC in the province into a powerful tool of transformation in the hands of our people.
· Breaking the cycle of weak political cohesion, factions, and divisions in the province.
· Reinvigorating the values and political practices of the movement, and · Leading our people in their daily struggles for a better life.
Provincial Chairperson stated that there would be sections within our ranks and indeed within the leadership structures that would do everything possible to prevent the work of reinvigorating the values, integrity and practises of the movement. What we did not imagine, was the extent and the low levels to which comrades would be prepared to go,
Provincial Chairperson: L.O. Mabuyane, Deputy Provincial Chairperson: M. Mvoko, Provincial Secretary: L.Ngcukayitobi,
Deputy Provincial Secretary: H. Sauls-August, Provincial Treasurer: B. Madikizela
to fight back against the unity and renewal of the movement, as seen in the recent times. “We never imagined that some amongst us would be prepared to undermine the authority of structures that they serve in, and to rather have the organisation in paralysis than to allow the wisdom of the collective and of branches to prevail”‘.”In the final analysis, we can conclude that comrade Joel Netshitenzhe was correct in saying that:
“The beneficiaries of corruption and state capture will not give up without a fight.” And that we should internalize this reality because attached to it, is the question; what should we do?
Furthermore, it is without a doubt that we should intensify the fight to restore the values, practises and integrity of our movement. We should relentlessly wage a war on liquidators, disruptors, factional snipers, and those that undermine and defy the will of the majority. We must deepen our fight against corruption and corporate capture of our movement and our country. We must double our efforts in ensuring that we close the gap between the movement and our people and work to regain their trust and confidence in areas where these have declined.
The meeting received update on the OR Tambo District Municipality, Implementation of Step Aside Procedures, Update on Regional Conferences, Provincial General Council and PEC Intervention Teams.
UPDATE ON OR TAMBO DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
The PEC received an update on the work done which was delegated to the PWC on the governance challenges at OR Tambo District Municipality. Noted was the work being done by the National Dispute Resolution Committee (NDRC) led by ANC DSG, Cde Jessie Duarte after a dispute was lodged to the SGO.PEC will continue with its interventions but will be firm in dealing with ill-discipline by its deployees throughout the Province.
IMPLEMENTATION OF STEP ASIDE PROCEDURES
Meeting received a report on the implementation of the Step Aside Procedures. In engaging the report, PEC noted the following:
The ANC’s 54th National Conference resolved to renew the movement and part of that renewal of its values was to deal decisively with fraud and corruption. This was reaffirmed by the
3.1. The African National Congress National Executive Committee on the 28 – 30 August 2020 which resolved that:
3.1.1. “Cadres of the ANC who are formally charged for corruption or other serious crimes must immediately step aside from all leadership positions in the ANC, legislatures or other government structures pending the finalisation of their cases.”
3.1.2. “The NEC Officials, as mandated, will develop guidelines and procedures on implementation, and the next NWC meeting will review progress. In cases where this has not happened, such individuals will be instructed to step aside”.
3.1.3. “Cadres of the ANC who are reported to be involved in corrupt and other serious criminal practices must go to the Integrity Commission to explain themselves.
Those who do not give an acceptable explanation may be suspended.”
3.1.4. “Cadres of the ANC who are convicted of corruption or other serious crimes must resign from leadership positions and face disciplinary action in line with the ANC
Constitution.”
3.2. The NEC also met on the 13th -14th February 2021 – adopted the guidelines as a working document which must be implemented.
3.3. Rule 25.70 provides that: “Where a public representative, office-bearer or member has been indicted to appear in a court of law on any charge, the Secretary General or Provincial Secretary, acting on the authority of the NEC, the NWC, the PEC, or the PWC, if satisfied that the temporary suspension of such public representative, office-bearer or member would be in the best interest of the Organisation, may suspend such public representative, elected office-bearer or member and impose terms and conditions to regulate their participation and conduct during the suspension.”
3.4. The following members of the PEC have been indicted for various issues emanating from allegations of fraud and corruption:
• Cde Quphe Zandisile
• Cde Sindiswa Gomba
• Cde Zukiswa Ncitha
• Cde Pumlani Mkolo
• Cde Tembalethu Ntuthu
• Cde Luleka Simon-Ndzele
PEC endorsed the implementation of the Step Aside Guidelines and invoked Rule 25.70 of ANC Constitutional provision on matters that comrades are charged on allegations of fraud and corruption.
Therefore owing to the submission of Cde Zandisile Quphe and Cde Zukiswa Ncitha to request to be recused in the structures of the ANC – owing to their indictments therefore – the PEC accepted this revolutionary act of putting the organization above personal circumstances and interests.
PEC has decided to invoke Rule 25.70 and as such suspended Cde Tembalethu Ntuthu, Cde Pumlani Mkolo and Cde Sindiswa Gomba and imposed conditions in line with the ANC Constitutional requirements.
Part of the conditions applicable to the members that either voluntarily stepped aside or where Constitutional Provisions have been invoked are as follows: – That they will be subjected to the Provincial Integrity Commission
– That they will still remain part of structures in which they were elected into pending the finalization of the Step Aside Regulations.
– That they are not supposed to represent the ANC in either public platforms or in the media space
– That they must update the ANC about developments of their cases monthly.
Therefore, Cde Thembalethu Ntutu must step aside from his responsibility as Cordinator of ANC Amathole RTT, and a new Acting Coordinator will be appointed.
Cde Pumlani Mkolo must step aside as Regional Chairperson of ANC Dr WB Rubusana Region and Deputy Chairperson will be an Acting Chairperson of the Region.
ORGANISATIONAL MATTERS
4.1. The capacity of the PEC to perform its tasks has been impaired by unfortunate events of deaths, illness and some comrades facing challenges with the law. We lost Cde Zoliswa Matana and Cde Thozama Mantashe to Covid-related illnesses in the recent past. The two comrades were Conveners of PEC Deployees to Sarah Baartman and Joe Gqabi, respectively. The Convener of the Education Sub-Committee Cde Simthembile Kulu is on a prolonged leave of absence due to ill health.
Comrades Zandisile Qupe and Zukiswa Ncitha have been indicted by the NPA and have agreed to step aside in the interest of the organisation.
Comrade Ncitha is a Convener of PEC Deployees in Nelson Mandela Region, while Cde Qupe is the Coordinator of the Provincial Elections Team.
The PEC has thus made the following appointments:
• Convener of PEC Deployees to Joe Gqabi Region – Cde Xolani Malamlela
• Convener of PEC Deployees to Sarah Baartman Region – Cde Lindelwa Dunjwwa
• Acting Convener of Deployees to Nelson Mandela Region – Cde Thabo Matiwane
• Acting Convener of the Education Sub Committee – Cde Nomakhosazana Meth • Acting PET Coordinator – Cde Mziwonke Ndabeni
UPDATE – REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND PROVINCIAL GENERAL COUNCIL
PEC received and engaged a report on the Roadmap towards Regional Conferences and Provincial General Council.
The Province was due to convene five (5)Regional Conferences (Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Nelson Mandela, OR Tambo and Amathole, ) and the Provincial General Council in 2020. The process was put on hold due to Covid-19 pandemic and regulations which barred social and political gatherings. On the 28th of February 2021 President Ramaphosa put the country on Alert Level 1 which permits political gatherings. Therefore, the Province has commenced with the preparation for the outstanding Regional Conferences and the Provincial General Council.
All ANC members should therefore remain disciplined and participate in these processes.
The PEC reaffirmed the important role of ANC structures, especially branches, the Alliance, and the MDM, in uniting, organizing and mobilising the broadest range of forces to address the social and economic challenges facing our Province.
The PEC will continue to have bilateral discussions with student movement as led by SASCO in particular given the crisis in the Higher Education – as we continue to implore the DHE to ensure that they make all efforts to ensure that the free higher education for the working class learners and poor is attained in line with the 54th national conference resolutions.
The PEC resolved to have bilateral meetings with NEHAWU and SAMWU on a variety of issues confronting their respective sectors.
The PEC calls on both the provincial government and ANC leaders to continue to intervene and deal firmly with any governance failures and allegations of corruption in the spirit of the resolutions of the ANC 54th National Conference.
ISSUED BY THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL
CONGRESS, CDE LULAMA NGCUKAYITOBI
Enquiries:
Cde Loyiso Magqashela
ANC PEC Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile No :0762479845/0823059611
Cde Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
Mobile No :0849519924 /0848439706
