ANC’s Ward 70 branch is still to operate, says the alleged pariah Chairperson Aubrey Adams.
The Record met Adams at his Fleurhof home on 28 August to discuss the current crisis in the branch and the allegations against him.
Adams told the Record that the recent events were unfortunate and admitted that it was a setback for the branch in the run-up to the elections in what he refers to as DA stronghold (Ward 70).
“It has left a vacuum and unfortunately Nature does not allow vacuums. Vacuums always are filled by something else, ” Adams explains.
In an interview of almost two hours Adams also alleged that the current situation is due to a few ‘renegades’ in the branch and that the problems started back in 2009. The branch has been sidelined by a factional group that allegedly are backed by the regional structure.
“Political ambitions have caused the turmoil and divisions. I do not even think that these individuals know that they are acting against the ANC’s constitution,” Adams says.
He explained that in the ANC the branch is the most important entity and that branches dictate to Zone, Regional, Provincial and National structures. According to Adams appointments and more can not be made from the top down but has to be born from the branch.
“We had a person (name known to the Record) who started having her own ambitions and actually got support from the Region, which is unconstitutional. She then mobilised a small group of supporters around her and she ended up being a representative in the Zone without the branch’s mandate. Most of the members do not support this group. Members are not happy with the way the Regional structure is meddling in the branch’s affairs,” Adams laments.
Bar for the renegade group, the rest of the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) now will regroup to formulate a letter to the Regional structure to inform them that the branch will continue operating until it can be proved that they are dysfunctional.
Without hesitation Adams says that he as the Chairperson of the branch still has the support of the majority of the members.
Regarding the allegations about the money he says that the donation in question was used exclusively to the benefit of the Donovan Macdonald Home for the Aged and that the contractor can attest to it.
With regard to the one year for which the branch does not have any financial records, Adams says that it was a treasurer’s doing. He believes that in many cases what seem like financial irregularities stem from other members not doing their jobs properly.
Finally the topic of the fateful evening of 26 August is raised. Branch Secretary Vusi Thomas claims that Adams assaulted him.
“After the meeting with Regional deployed representatives everyone went outside. In the meeting Thomas accused me of stealing a small amount (R1 000) that he donated. I wanted to ask him about it and called the treasurer to tell him how the money was applied, although Thomas full well knew. Thomas got off his scooter and took off his helmet. Suddenly he took a swing at me and hit me in the face with the helmet. I collapsed and people had to intervene.
“I picked up the helmet and wanted to retaliate but decided against it. Instead I threw the helmet across the street into a veld,” says Adams who also claims to have witnesses in his defence.
Adams told the Record that he also is going to lay a charge of assault but has tarried because the police told him first to see a doctor to confirm that he was injured. This Adams allegedly did and had X-rays taken.
The Record approached branch Media Liaison Dan Mabalane for official comment but he declined for the moment, citing having to talk to Adams and the branch first as the reasons.
