Tshwarelo Hunter Mogakane
Pretoria - ANC electoral committee chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe has come under fire for allegedly ignoring objections from comrades who felt left out of the nominations for the party’s national executive committee (NEC).
Nominations for the 80 members of the NEC, the highest decision-making body between the party's conferences, excludes those who had submitted objections to the electoral committee.
Mandisa Masala, Ernest Buda Tsotetsi, Isaac Mashaba, Mogomotsi Mogodiri, Adil Nchabeleng, Lulu Johnson, Fezeka Magano and Percy Ntsikelelo Sebata have criticised Motlanthe for stifling their voices.
They demanded that Motlanthe and his committee look at the raw data available concerning branch nominations that were allegedly ignored.
“The call by ANC members for raw data is an honest attempt at deepening transparency and accountability, while entrenching ANC internal democracy,” said Mogodiri, one of the objectors.
Mogodiri, an ANC member, former political detainee, ex-MK combatant and a media specialist, told the Pretoria News that the ANC’s renewal chorus was dependent on democratic processes and the will of the branches.
“If the ANC is to achieve its much-elusive goal of unity, rebuilding, and renewal, it is imperative that rules are followed, members are allowed to exercise their democratic rights without undue hindrance,” he said.
The group of eight decided to lodge their grievances with the electoral committee after their objections were ignored at the provincial and national levels. In a letter of objection, the group said branches were unhappy with the published list of nominees for NEC positions at the Nasrec conference.
“Currently, there are many discrepancies noted by discontented members over the integrity of the process, in particular branch members who were campaigning for certain candidates and engaged with branches.
“The national conference is the conference of the branches and, as such, the highest decision-making structure of the body. Branches are therefore entitled to be provided with the information demanded,” wrote the group.
They demanded that the total number of branch nominations and provincial nominations be presented in an Excel spreadsheet, “as prescribed in Nomination Rules 8.1 and 8.5 … in order to affirm and strengthen the democratic processes of the ANC”.
The secretary of the electoral committee, Luvhuwani Matsila, acknowledged receipt of their objections and promised to give a “substantive” response, which Motlanthe provided, prompting further correspondence and displeasure from the group. Yesterday, the group released a media statement condemning Motlanthe and Matsila.
“Serious concerns were raised during a meeting about the inexplicable veil of secrecy regarding the nomination processes and blatant violation of the rules governing nominations and elections of ANC leaders and public representatives.
“For instance and according to the electoral committee, provincial consolidation of nomination lists, vetting, objections and disputes were to precede national consolidation. It was then that a final nomination list was to be published.
“We were taken aback when a purported final list was published when these steps were not yet undertaken. This misstep raised serious questions and doubts about the integrity of the nomination process,” said the group.
The group said the electoral committee had a lot of explaining to do.
“We need to emphasise that our efforts are not aimed at wanting to be in the final 200 list by hook or crook. If the raw data demonstrates that all or some of us did not make the list, honestly and fairly, we will gladly accept the outcome of that democratic process.
“However, should the raw data point otherwise, the electoral committee will have to provide a plausible explanation for that discrepancy. Failure in explaining our exclusion must trigger consequence management,” the group said.
“In the intervening period, Comrade Motlanthe wrote to us reiterating most of what was contained in the secretary's response. Avoiding to address our demand for raw data, Comrade Motlanthe disappointingly went on a tirade that amounted to threats, intimidation, labelling, and suppression of dissenting views,” they said.
The group also condemned the tone they say Motlanthe used in his response.
“It is also preposterous, if not demeaning on the part of the electoral committee, to label us as ‘disgruntled’. Nothing can be further from the truth as we are ANC members in good standing who are fighting for justice.
“As ANC members in good standing, we take a dim view of such uncomradely conduct of resorting to underhand and bullying tactics from someone or people tasked with such important responsibility of managing the ANC’s elections. We object to being patronised and demonised when we raise legitimate concerns,” the group said.
Motlanthe was not immediately available for comment. Matsila did not respond to text messages sent to his phone.
Pretoria News