PAC leader accused of violating court order by placing party under a decree

Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) leader Narius Moloto has been accused of violating a court order which saw him become president of the party.

On March 8, the High Court in Pretoria issued an order advising the PAC to set up an interim leadership structure ahead of this year’s national elections and that the party should hold an elective conference by no later than August 30.

IOL reported that in an out of court agreement, Moloto was placed as president of the party and Mzwanele Nyhontso his deputy. Apa Pooe was selected as secretary-general with his deputy being Bennett Joko. Phumzile Phasha was selected as acting treasurer, Mbuyise Gantshu as the national organiser, Phillip Dlamini as national chair and Sibusiso Xaba as his deputy.

The statement posted on the party’s Facebook page with the handle PAC HQ @PACofAzania accused Moloto of violating the court order by placing the organisation under a decree by invoking clause 14(2) of the PAC constitution.

Moloto confirmed to the Citizen that the said Facebook page was the official account of the party.

However, he declined to respond to the statement because it did not state who its author was.

The Citizen sent an email to Pooe to determine whether the statement was officially issued by the party and who had authored it. However, a response has not been forthcoming. Pooe could not be reached for comment as his phone was off.

Last month, Moloto told the SABC that the party was placed under decree because its office bearers and national executive committee (NEC) failed to work together to organise the PAC’s August elective conference.

The decree means the PAC NEC would no longer exist and the party would be run by an administrator until the PAC congress is convened in August.

Moloto told the Citizen that the court order did not prohibit the invocation of the clause.

PAC NEC member Gcobani Katiya said anything that implicated the party was a serious concern, urging party members to preserve their strength for the Congress in August which would be the “final arbiter” in the factions plaguing the party.

PAC members accusing each other would not be of benefit to the party, Katiya said, adding that party members were welcome to approach the courts if they sought to deal with certain issues, including the allegation that Moloto had violated the March court order.

Read the statement below:

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