The ANC in the Eastern Cape has been accused by its alliance partner – The National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) – of giving more protection to newly appointed member of the provincial legislature (MPL) Pumelele Ndamase than his alleged sex-for-jobs victims.
Ndamase, who is implicated in the sex-for-jobs scandal, was officially sworn in as ANC MPL in Vincent, East London yesterday morning.
These types of proceedings are normally held at the Bhisho legislature but the legislature has denied claims that it was moved from their offices to Vincent because staff affiliated to Nehawu had embarked on protest action in solidarity with Ndamase’s alleged victims.
Both ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane and the party’s provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane had not responded to allegations made by Nehawu, to the Daily Dispatch at the time of writing yesterday.
Ndamase, who is also an ANC provincial executive committee member, confirmed he was officially sworn in yesterday.
“Nehawu knows that they don’t have anything to do with political deployment. If it wants to control the ANC, good luck,” he said.
“I was sworn in. The sex-for-jobs matter is sub judice. The high court has set it for March 22. A trade union has nothing to do with political party deployments.
“It will be a serious indictment to the administration of the institution if they allowed wild cat action. The whole saga is challenged in high court.
“ I don’t want to engage with that we have a very long way forward.”
Ndamase said he had a clean management record.
“I accept the responsibility given by the ANC to be a lawmaker now,” Ndamase added.
Nehawu chairman Madoda Nkwali said staff were opposed to Ndamase’s appointment.
“We are very disappointed that they conducted it in East London. The legislature is aware that we were going to disrupt the proceedings,” Nkwali said.
“The ANC has taken a position to protect perpetrators at the expense of victims. Our fears are that it can redeploy Ndamase to be a chief whip or to any position in the legislature that could bring him closer to his victims.”
He said staff would continue picketing during lunch hours until the ANC addressed their grievances. A protest was also planned for the party’s headquarters, Calata House, in King William’s Town.
Provincial legislature secretary Vuyani Mapolisa denied claims that Ndamase’s swearing in was moved to East London to avoid disruptions.
Mapolisa said the move was prompted by the unavailability of provincial legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet in Bhisho.
“The speaker had commitments in East London and we used our second office there.”
He said the legislature was satisfied that Ndamase met the relevant criteria for the post and that he was innocent until proven guilty.