An African National Congress (ANC) leader in the Western Cape has denied joining the uMkhonto weSizwe Party as a "coordinator".

Provincial executive committee (PEC) member Silas Rataza has been accused of dumping the ANC for the new political outfit and accepting money to join it. 

According to a letter from an MK Party secretary-general, Rataza was given the role of coordinator, which is equivalent to that of a provincial secretary in the ANC. 

Though he has denied joining it, MK Party leaders in the Western Cape told News 24 Rataza had indeed signed up.

He previously led the Dullar Omar region in the province before it was disbanded.

Rataza, a former ANC Youth League leader in the Western Cape, appears as number 12 on the provincial ANC's provisional list for deployment to the legislature.

The list is subject to the approval of the ANC's national executive committee.

He also serves in the provincial working committee of the ANC in the Western Cape and works within the party's elections machinery as a campaign organiser and mobiliser.  

According to some who worked alongside Rataza, allegations he might have accepted money to join the MK Party were not far-fetched, as he had previously been accused of taking money to help "to grow the ANC in the Western Cape". 

On Thursday, Rataza denied he had joined the MK Party and described the appointment as bogus.

"I have seen that a list with a Silas with no surname and my WhatsApp contact number next to it has been appointed as a Western Cape coordinator."

"This is to set the record straight that I, Sipho Silas Rataza, a member of the ANC in good standing and a member of the PEC of the ANC in the Western Cape, has no relationship whatsoever with the MK Party," he said.

Rataza added he held only one membership, and that was his ANC membership, which he joined voluntarily. 

"I campaign only for the ANC. Upon seeing that appointment letter yesterday, I took the ANC officials, my family, and my friends into my confidence on the subject matter and distanced myself from this bogus appointment. 

"I will be pursuing this matter further to ascertain how my name appeared on such a list."

Before his announcement in December that he would not campaign or vote for the ANC in the 2024 elections, former president Jacob Zuma enjoyed some support from a small group within the party who identified as Radical Economic Transformation forces in the Western Cape.

The ANC in the Western Cape has closed ranks around Rataza.

Its secretary, Neville Delport, dismissed the allegations as rumours, stating Rataza remained a member of the ANC in good standing.  

Delport, in a statement, said they had "learned of a dangerously misleading letter … falsely asserting that [their] PEC member, Silas Rataza, had not only joined the MK Party but is also appointed as their Western Cape coordinator".

He said after speaking with Rataza, the ANC learned the allegations were false. 

"Comrade Silas remains a member of the ANC PEC, the provincial working committee, and is an active [member] of our 2024 elections machinery as our head of organising, mobilisation, and campaigns." 

According to Delport, Rataza said he had no association with the MK Party.

He said Rataza remained a steadfast member and leader of the ANC who would not campaign for any other political party.

"We unequivocally condemn this deception and reject attempts to associate [Rataza] with the MK Party."

Delport added the correspondence was an effort to cast doubt on the integrity and commitment of [Rataza] to the unity and renewal of the ANC. 

"He is not the first leader of the ANC in the province to be falsely accused of being an MK Party member."