Staff Reporter
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the party will soon establish an interim structure in the Free State to prepare for an elective conference after the provincial executive was disbanded about two months ago following a court ruling.
He said this on Monday in his closing remarks at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held virtually from Saturday.
“To avoid a political vacuum in the province, we have . . . mandated the NWC (National Working Committee) to establish an inclusive interim structure to take the province to an elective conference in due course,” said Ramaphosa.
The Free State provincial executive was dissolved after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) nullified the party’s provincial conference held in May 2018 and declared it unlawful and unconstitutional.
The ruling rendered all decisions/resolutions and/or the outcome of the conference unlawful and unconstitutional.
The matter was brought to the SCA by three disgruntled ANC members, Matshepo Ramakatsa, Themba Mvandaba and Shashapa Joshua Motaung.
The trio wanted the appeal court to declare that the ANC provincial conference which took place on 18 and 19 May, 2018 was held in violation of a High Court order dated November 29, 2017.
The High Court had made an order that the provincial conference should not be held until certain Branch General Meetings had been held in a lawful manner that accords with the constitution of the ANC.
Ramaphosa reiterated that a political solution should now be found by members in the province instead of challenging the SCA ruling in court.
“In light of the Ramakatsa versus ANC judgment, we have agreed that priority must be given to pursuing a political solution that will build a united and vibrant ANC in the Free State,” he said.
“We need to intensify the efforts being led by Cde Kgalema Motlante to achieve a political solution in the Free State.”
Motlante has been tasked by the party to spearhead discussions into the matter in the province.
The ANC president said the NEC also found that suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule erred when he wrote him a letter of suspension saying it was agreed the embattled leader had no brief or authority to do so.
“The NEC discussed the ‘letter of suspension’ written by the secretary-general to the president, for which the secretary-general had no authority or mandate from any structure of the movement.
“The NEC agreed that such conduct was completely unacceptable and a flagrant violation of the rules, norms and values of the ANC,” said Ramaphosa at the end of the meeting which he said dealt with very difficult issues.
He said it was further agreed that the secretary-general should apologise publicly to ANC structures and members within a set timeframe.
“If he fails to do so, the ANC will institute disciplinary procedures in accordance with the ANC constitution,” said Ramaphosa, who earlier stated that the meeting reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the process of renewal and rebuilding.