The ANC in the Lejweleputswa Region has announced the names of members who have been expelled following their decision to join other political parties, including the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), founded by former ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule.

Regional Chairperson, Xolile Toki, said among the expelled members of the ruling party are former mayors, members of mayoral committees, speakers, deputy regional chairpersons, and the former regional secretary. “As the Regional Executive Committee, we have noticed there are members who defected to other political parties. We have engaged with our structures formally to identify people who have not resigned from the ANC and chose to defect.”

Toki was addressing members of the media at the briefing where he was initially to explain their reasons for expelling Sootho Tau, who was an ANC ward councillor, elected during the 2021 Local Government Elections in the Nala Local Municipality, Ward 11 in Bothaville. Tau was found guilty on seven of eight counts of misconduct after numerous attempts to reprimand and correct his behaviour towards the ANC. “Undermining the rules and policies of the ANC cannot under any circumstances be tolerated.”

Some of the charges he was found guilty of include;

• On 28 March 2023, during a council meeting, Sootho Tau voted in support of the opposition party(ies) during a council meeting held to elect an Acting Chief Financial Officer(CFO).
• On about 14 April 2023 during a council meeting, Sootho Tau voted in support of the opposition party(/ies) at the time of approving the Draft Budget and the tabling of the Municipality's Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
• On March 2023 and/or about 14 April 2023, Sootho Tau breached Rule 25.2 which provides that: All members, office bearers, and public representatives must familiarise themselves with the content of the Constitution, Standing Orders, Rules, Regulations, and Policies adopted or made in terms of the ANC Constitution.
• In March 2023, and on about 14 April 2023, Sootho Tau acted in breach of rule 25.17.21 as a public representative in that he had failed, refused, or neglected to carry out an instruction to carry out or execute an instruction or mandate of the ANC Caucus.

Speaking on the reasons why they have dismissed members who have joined other parties, Toki said it is because they have noticed some people attend ANC meetings, and the next day they are seen wearing T-shirts of other political parties.

“These people are clinging to ANC positions whilst they pouch ANC members, they are holding high positions and not doing work in an attempt to cripple or weaken the ANC from within, we are therefore on a journey to unmask them.”

According to the list, at least 34 members have decided to join the ACT by Magashule; at least four have joined the African Democratic Change (ADEC); at least two have joined the Independent South African National Civic Organisation (Isanco); and two have joined the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

OFM News/Tshehla Koteli