By: Refilwe Mochoari

Factional battles and instability in the ANC's North West province were evident during a Regional General Council (RGC) special meeting held on Sunday, 31 August, at the Carousel Hotel in Rustenburg.

ANCYL Bojanala regional task team (RTT) strongly condemned the ill-disciplined behaviour displayed by members of the Moses Kotane sub-region, led by the region’s ANC Caucus Whip, during a meeting that undermined the leadership of the NEC, PEC, and REC, who were present.

According to eyewitnesses, the disruption started when a group of comrades from the Moses Kotane Sub-region entered the conference room, causing chaos during the meeting.

RTT coordinator, Pako Mokua, says the situation escalated when comrades booed ANC regional chairperson, Shiela Mabale-Huma, upon her arrival to welcome leadership and members.

He says the provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo, had to intervene, calling out the Whip for unruly behaviour.

Mokua expressed disappointment over the incident, saying it was disappointing to see comrades led by the Single Whip booing the regional chairperson.

“We are calling for immediate disciplinary processes to be initiated towards the Caucus Whip and other comrades who were rowdy during the interaction."

She says this was a staged, well-organised factional arrangement which undermines the ANC leadership's integrity and credibility.

“The task team believes that disciplinary processes will shape the conduct of comrades and affirm the renewal agenda undertaken by the ANC,” Mokua said.

RTT spokesperson, Thabiso Bodigelo, emphasised the need for the ANC to address organisational challenges, including a lack of support for the ANCYL RTT and Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), and the issue of ‘municipalised ANC’ affecting branch functionality.

Bodigelo says the RTT plans to request a meeting with the Bojanala REC to discuss steps taken to enforce discipline against deployees who undermine the organisation’s integrity.

“We have also said that the factions of the ANC in Bojanala are more organised than the organisation, because even transport coordination was centralised in the Single Whip’s offices, but certain branches were deliberately left behind.

“We have even used the famous quote of the ANCYL President Collen Malatji that the biggest challenge in the ANC is the integrity of the messenger, that if the integrity of the messenger is in question, the messenger is doubted, even when the message is true. The ANC must deal with the issue of the integrity of the messengers we send to the government.

“The ANC’s efforts to address ill-disciplined tendencies are crucial in maintaining its image and effectiveness as an organisation by promoting discipline and accountability, said Bodigelo.