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We wish to welcome members of the fourth estate to this press briefing – taking place as we start the festive season.  

We know that most of you as media practitioners and media houses at large, there is no time for the holidays.  

We thank you for joining us this morning.

Equally, we extend our festive seasons’ greetings to the media practitioners who are following us through social media platforms. 

Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, you might have noticed that in our media alert we emphasized that today, we would announce a decisive action in relation to the Office Bearers in Umzumbe District Municipality.

We wish to start by pointing out that all ANC members who swear allegiance to the ANC have to accept that they serve the ANC and ultimately the people under the banner of the organization.

ANC members who swear allegiance to the organization are expected to  subordinate their interest to its strategic objectives. Consequently, it is not their personal interests that have to be served by the ANC. 

Conduct and public pronouncements of deployed leaders across all levels and members must reflect the programme of action and policy position of the ANC.

Having said that, as a democratic organization, we make provision for ANC members to place all matters that reflect differences of opinions and criticism. 

We do understand that within the ANC you will always have members that will seek to influence previous decisions of the organization with a view to get them changed. 

It is for these reasons we have internal democratic processes  that enables our members across all structures to influence ANC decisions and to a large extent policies.

We are the only organization that has such internal democratic processes that are steeped in the culture of open debate. 

Each matter is discussed thoroughly with members allowed to present their best points of view.  After discussions, a logical position is reached.

This position is then adopted as the resolution that has to be accepted by all as the resolution behind which all members have to rally. 

This then means that the other different minority views are subordinated to this decision since it has been arrived at democratically. This we refer to as democratic centralism. 

Membership of the ANC embodies in it the willingness to subject ourselves to this concept of democratic centralism, always utilizing existing structures to raise issues wherein all points of view are tolerated during debate. 

It is an act of indiscipline to use ANC platforms to implement a position or a resolution that reflects a variance to accepted policy or agreed positions especially when these have not been processed internally. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, you will recall that on the 22nd August 2023, we announced the suspension of the membership of Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo, the former Speaker of Mzumbe Local Municipality.

This is after the PEC had received a report on his alleged conduct which was interpreted as in defiance of the ANC decisions especially  in ANC  council meetings.

It should be recalled that ANC structures marched to the provincial office in protest against his conduct. 

After the PEC’s decision to suspend his membership, Cde Sbonelo was subjected to a fair disciplinary processes.

As an Officer Bearer he was charged for the following acts of misconduct:-

Contravention of Rule 25.17.1: Acting in breach of the membership oath;

Contravention of Rule 25.17.3: Failing, refusing or neglecting to execute or comply with any ANC Policy, Standing Order;

Contravention of Rule 25.17.12: Undermining the respect for or impeding the functioning of any structure or committee of the ANC;

Contravention of Rule 25.17.17: Prejudicing the integrity or repute of the Organisation, its personnel or its operational capacity by:

25.17.17.1       impeding the activities of the Organisation;

 25.17.17.2       creating divisions within its ranks or membership;

25.17.17.3       doing any other act which undermines the ANC’ effectiveness as an organisation; or

25.17.17.4       acting on behalf of or in collaboration with:

25.17.17.4.1  counter-revolutionary forces;

25.17.17.4.2  a political organisation or party other than an organisation or party in alliance with the ANC in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the ANC;

25.17.17.4.3 intelli-gence or the security services of other countries; 

or

25.17.17.4.4 any person or group who seriously interferes with the work of     the Organisation or prevents it from fulfilling its mission and objectives.

Contravention of Rule 25.17.20:    In the case of a public representative, breaching his or her contract of deployment concluded with the NEC; 

Contravention of Rule 25.17.21: In the case of a member of an ANC Caucus, failing, refusing or neglecting to carry out or execute an instruction or mandate of such caucus; and

Contravention of Rule 25.17.22: In the case of a representative in disciplinary proceedings, charging or soliciting a fee for services rendered or levying a disbursement for associated costs when representing a charged member, appellant or review applicant, as the case may be.

Based on the overwhelming evidence presented by witnesses during the disciplinary hearing Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo was found guilty on all the charges.

We must hasten to point out that this verdict was reached in line with the principle of fairness and equality. Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo was given the opportunity to defend himself and state his side of the story.

As the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal we are satisfied with the work of the Chairperson of the Provincial Disciplinary Committee Cde Super Zuma in relation to this Disciplinary Hearing of  Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo.

As the chair, Cde Super Zuma carefully evaluated as to whether the constitution of the ANC had been complied with.

Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo is Expelled from the ANC 

We wish to indicate that based on the overwhelming evidence presented by witnesses during the disciplinary hearing Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo was found guilty on all the charges.

We are today publicly announcing and informing all ANC members, communities of Umzumbe Local Municipality and communities in ward 11 in particular  that Cde Sbonelo Maphumulo is expelled from the ANC with immediate effect.

The following steps would be to inform the Independent Electoral Commission that Cde Sibonelo Maphumulo, having ceased to be a member of the ANC, can no longer occupy the seat of the ANC in Umzumbe Local Municipality; and therefore a vacancy would be declared. 

Since Maphumulo was a ward councillor the ANC will deploy a councillor who will serve the people of ward 11 while we are preparing for the by-election that the ANC will win decisively.

The ANC caucus of Umzumbe will be informed and be allowed to elect a new Speaker and we expect maximum discipline since any form of ill-discipline and defiance will be met with harshest punishment. 

We want to also reiterate that we are prepared to go to by-elections in Umzumbe Local Municipality and we are committed to instill maximum discipline by all means possible, including having to contest again in many wards.

Matters of Discipline 

As we move forward, we wish to emphasize that in the ANC cadres deployed to positions of responsibility must give principled leadership, energy  and tirelessly work for the development of our people.

The ANC has a clear programme of action which must be carried out by all structures of the movement. Office Bearers are expected to be exemplary in their conduct and serve with honour, integrity and display that the deep love for their communities.

Self-serving tendences are discouraged. At all times, the focus must be on the implementation of ANC decisions and resolutions designed to eradicate the conditions of squalor and poverty under which millions of our people live.

Having access to the levers of power and presiding over state or municipal resources do not give Officer Bearers the wrong impression that they are above the ANC.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, we wish to assure the community of Umzumbe Local Municipality that the ANC in the province and the region will ensure that there is stability in the municipality.

The ANC has undertaken to sustain close interactions structures of the ANC in the municipality and ensure unity as we move forward.

The ANC will undertake community outreach programmes which will be followed by visits by the Premier and MECs as part of accelerating service delivery in the municipality. We want deployees of the respond to respond directly to issues raised  by communities.

We affirm our commitment to ensure that  ANC deployees in all spheres of ANC government continue to respond with a high sense of urgency in providing water and electricity, fighting crime, ensuring job creation, building socio economic infrastructure such as roads, human settlements, schools and clinics. 

The PEC has stated on several occasions to all deployees of the ANC that service delivery must be rendered with efficiency that reflects pride in being offered the opportunity to serve.

There should be no place for wastefulness, shoddy work, incompetence, indolence, arrogance, greed and self-interest.

The ANC was established to serve the people and we offer not to fail them. 

I thank you

Issued on behalf of the African National Congress Provincial Executive Committee by Provincial Secretary Cde Bheki Mtolo