The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Eastern Cape has called for a probe into what it deems a fraudulent proportional representation (PR) councillor list by the ANC’s Dr WB Rubusana region (BCM).
The party wrote to ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane asking him to investigate allegations of “meddling” by suspended ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo.
The letter, which the Daily Dispatch has seen, was copied to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and SACP secretary-general Blade Nzimande.
Mkolo has been on suspension since the ANC’s integrity committee’s report on his involvement in the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal, but the SACP believes he masterminded the whole nomination process.
In the letter, SACP provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha accuses Mkolo of being privy to the administration processes of drafting the PR councillor list.
“To the party’s surprise, comrade Mkolo, who is currently suspended, was part of the administrative process to compile list and taking of information from envelopes. This confirms our assertion as the SACP that his suspension is just a pure academic exercise that leaves the entire REC as his powerhouse, as confirmed by the national integrity commission,” part of the letter reads.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Mkolo referred all questions to acting regional secretary Mkhawuleli Maleki. Numerous attempts to reach Maleki were unsuccessful.
In the letter, Nqatha further alleges that envelopes from branches were not folded and sealed as per ANC processes.
“The numbers in the voting pattern in branches are questionable as they look the same for various candidates. presents part of the issues that suggest fraud has taken place and therefore under this allegation of manipulation of administrative process for fraudulent purposes, the outcome of the process cannot be recognised by the SACP. Hence we are advocating for an inclusive, credible team to investigate this serious allegation,” Nqatha writes.
When contacted yesterday, SACP provincial spokesman Siyabulela Mdodi confirmed the letter but refused to be drawn into discussing its contents.
“As the SACP we can confirm having corresponded with the ANC in relation to the list processes, in particular in BCM. We are not, however, at liberty to discuss contents of that correspondence as we trust in the internal process of resolving whatever challenges,” Mdodi said.
Last week, some inside the ANC in the region expressed concern over the exclusion of current BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi on the list, as this could mean he has to relinquish his post subsequent to the local government elections.
Deputy mayor and ANC regional chair Xola Pakati will likely replace Mtsi as he was nominated to the No1 spot on the list.
Other senior ANC councillors were also excluded as space was made for newcomers like Ncedo Kumbaca and Youth League regional leader Xolani Witbooi.
Attempts to get comment from Mabuyane were unsuccessful yesterday. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
SACP calls for PR councillor list probe
The party wrote to ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane asking him to investigate allegations of “meddling” by suspended ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo.
The letter, which the Daily Dispatch has seen, was copied to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and SACP secretary-general Blade Nzimande.
Mkolo has been on suspension since the ANC’s integrity committee’s report on his involvement in the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal, but the SACP believes he masterminded the whole nomination process.
In the letter, SACP provincial secretary Xolile Nqatha accuses Mkolo of being privy to the administration processes of drafting the PR councillor list.
“To the party’s surprise, comrade Mkolo, who is currently suspended, was part of the administrative process to compile list and taking of information from envelopes. This confirms our assertion as the SACP that his suspension is just a pure academic exercise that leaves the entire REC as his powerhouse, as confirmed by the national integrity commission,” part of the letter reads.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Mkolo referred all questions to acting regional secretary Mkhawuleli Maleki. Numerous attempts to reach Maleki were unsuccessful.
In the letter, Nqatha further alleges that envelopes from branches were not folded and sealed as per ANC processes.
“The numbers in the voting pattern in branches are questionable as they look the same for various candidates. presents part of the issues that suggest fraud has taken place and therefore under this allegation of manipulation of administrative process for fraudulent purposes, the outcome of the process cannot be recognised by the SACP. Hence we are advocating for an inclusive, credible team to investigate this serious allegation,” Nqatha writes.
When contacted yesterday, SACP provincial spokesman Siyabulela Mdodi confirmed the letter but refused to be drawn into discussing its contents.
“As the SACP we can confirm having corresponded with the ANC in relation to the list processes, in particular in BCM. We are not, however, at liberty to discuss contents of that correspondence as we trust in the internal process of resolving whatever challenges,” Mdodi said.
Last week, some inside the ANC in the region expressed concern over the exclusion of current BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi on the list, as this could mean he has to relinquish his post subsequent to the local government elections.
Deputy mayor and ANC regional chair Xola Pakati will likely replace Mtsi as he was nominated to the No1 spot on the list.
Other senior ANC councillors were also excluded as space was made for newcomers like Ncedo Kumbaca and Youth League regional leader Xolani Witbooi.
Attempts to get comment from Mabuyane were unsuccessful yesterday. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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