Mashinini has sent a stern warning against aggrieved ANC members who keep dragging the party to courts and urged them to unite ahead of the May elections. Addressing multitudes of ANC supporters during their manifesto launch at the Dr Petrus Molema Stadium in Bloemfontein, Mashinini said all members of the party must exhaust internal structures before heading to court. He highlighted that all ANC members should at this stage focus on ensuring that plans towards job creation, and land expropriation without compensation, amongst others, materialise. Mashinini said all members must realise that the party is serious about its plans on renewal and unity, and stop running to courts.

His statement comes just days after the case by 16 ANC Councillors, who were fired in the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality, was thrown out of the Free State High Court with costs.

The group was expelled from Council last year after they were found guilty of voting with opposition parties during the election of the Speaker of Council and new executive mayor, Gilbert Mokotso. They were accused of defying the party’s resolution to nominate and vote a party-preferred candidate into mayoral office.

Mashinini said such verdicts must serve as an indication to all its ANC deployees to respect the decision made by the leadership in the province.

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