NELSPRUIT – The three ANC secretaries who applied for parliament after the forthcoming elections, will hopefully know their fate by Tuesday February 11.
Mr Lucky Ndinisa, provincial secretary, explained to Lowvelder on Tuesday that the provincial branch of the ANC made its case to the party’s national executive committee at Luthuli House on Monday.
The national party list committee had earlier rejected the bid of Mr Pat Ngomane, regional secretary of Ehlanzeni; Mr Muzi Chirwa, regional secretary of Gert Sibande District; and Ms Clara Ndlovu, provincial secretary of the ANC Women’s League to be allowed to go to parliament, on the basis that they occupy full-time positions in the party.
Ndinisa, however, explained that since their terms had already expired, and the provincial leadership had decided to postpone new elections within the structures until after the general elections, they had very good reason to appeal and be allowed on the list.
“We are not a shapeless jellyfish,” he said. “We have norms and traditions and policies.” He explained that municipal councillors and full-time employees are discouraged from being on party lists to go to either provincial or national legislatures.
“In exceptional cases, the structure, in this case the province, will write a motivation. The terms of office of our three comrades lapsed last year already. The provincial party structure recommended that they stay in their positions and not have regional elections until after the general elections to focus on that instead.”
Ngomane, Chirwa and Ndlovu made it onto the province’s candidate list for parliament, where the national party list committee rejected them. “There is no issue of breaking rules. We are allowed to appeal and we believe we have a very good case,” Ndinisa said.
He said the national committee met every Monday, and would hopefully come to a decision in favour of the Mpumalanga comrades next week. He also explained that councillors were discouraged, not necessarily to avoid by-elections in their wards, but to concentrate on their work to serve the community.
“We have never motivated for a councillor to go to Luthuli House.”
Mr Gwede Mantashe, secretary general of the ANC, has indicated that the party’s candidate lists will be made public after the voting date has been announced. This is expected on Monday February 10, following the closing of the voter-registration period.
