ACDP to charge its Tshwane councillors for supporting adjustment budget
The ACDP leadership are up in arms about alleged support of a party councillor for the multiparty coalition in the council.
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) will this week charge its councillor for voting in support of the current Tshwane ruling coalition.
ACDP leader Reverend Kenneth Meshoe told Rekord that his party is disappointed in the alleged behaviour of ACDP councillors voting with the ANC in the council, and party structures will deal with them.
“We need to clarify that we have never been in alliance with the ANC and will not start now. Not in the Government of National Unity and not on any level of government. The National Executive Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party between conferences, took a principled decision that the party will not form coalitions or co-operative government relationships with the ANC, be it at national, provincial or local government. I need to say to our supporters it is regrettable that this happened in Tshwane but it will be dealt with,” said Meshoe.
The ACDP has two councillors in the Tshwane council, Ronald Morake and Thabang Moshidi.
Meshoe said party supporters can rest assured that the party has not compromised its principled position.
“We will not and have not reneged on our promise and commitment to our voter base and of that they can be sure,” he confirmed.
On Thursday, February 27 the metro published the Adjustment Budget for 2024/2025 on which the ACDP logo appeared.
This document was issued as a joint statement of the city with the logos of all the coalition partners and that of ACDP.
ACDP secretary-general Cherrel Jacobs said to Rekord that the party wishes to make it categorically clear that it is not part of the coalition led by the ANC in the metro.
“We will never co-align with the ANC. If we choose to support something like the choice of a mayor in a municipality regardless of the party, it will always be because we are of the view that the person is fit for the purpose of the role. This does not mean that we are aligning with that party,” said Jacobs.
She confirmed that there will be an internal investigation into the logo incident and the misrepresentation of the party position in the council.
“We will deal with it harshly if we find the source,” said Jacobs.
She confirmed that the party distances itself from the statement as issued as it does not reflect the political position of the party.
“Once this process has been concluded, corrective action will be implemented to set the record straight,” said Jacobs.
The national leader of ActionSA, Michael Beaumont, said that ActionSA notes the comments by the ACDP correctly pointing out they are not formal coalition partners in the Tshwane council.
“The ACDP remains constructive in their approach and appears open to supporting the proposals of the governing multi-party coalition on the merits of the matter in question,” said Beaumont.
He remarked that this approach is appreciated and valued more than that of other opposition parties like the DA.
“They oppose for the sake of opposition, even when it is progress that they are in opposition to,” said Beaumont.
Caucus leader of the Freedom Front Plus, Grandi Theunissen said the ACDP members voted to remove the previous coalition from power.
“The two ACDP members sit with the newly formed ruling coalition in the council chamber and have openly voted with them in every vote including the adjustment budget in February.”
Theunissen condemned the ACDP’s support for the ANC-led coalition in terms of their existing policy of not supporting the ANC at any level of government.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The party is supposed to have Christian principles. How can you openly lie to the public and say you adhere to a basic Christian principle like always speaking the truth and then this happens that ACDP councillors go against the leadership’s rule of not aligning to the ANC?” Theunissen questioned.
DA caucus leader in the council, Cilliers Brink said the ACDP approved the adjustment budget.
“The ACDP caucus leader, Ronald Morake, apparently got a position in the ANC-led coalition. It is disingenuous to claim that the ACDP isn’t part of the ANC coalition,” said Brink.
– Click here to see the statement by parties in favour of the Adjustment Budget 2024/25:
JOINT STATEMENT BY COALITION PARTY LEADERS ON THE 2024/25 ADJUSTMENTS BUDGET
Coalition party leaders, including the GOOD Party, commend the City of Tshwane for its progressive 2024/25 Adjustments Budget, focusing on reducing the deficit, increasing revenue, and improving… pic.twitter.com/ON2rNX5e9h
— GOOD (@ForGoodZA) February 27, 2025
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