Predictions of alliance rift

Stirrings in the political arena point at predictions of a possible blow to the tripartite alliance following sanctions handed down to Capricorn District Executive Mayor Gilbert Kganyago, who was suspended by the ruling party and from his mayoral seat. If things would come to the worst for the parties, it could cost the African National Congress (ANC) in the province dearly when going to the polls in the upcoming local government elections.
In mid-December Kganyago, who is Provincial Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP), was suspended for three years as per sanction handed down in his absence by a disciplinary committee of the ANC in Peter Mokaba Region.
It follows two charges of alleged misconduct in his capacity as mayor on which evidence was led by a disciplinary committee, whereupon he was subsequently found guilty of contravening sections of the ANC Constitution by respectively walking out of a political management team meeting without being authorised to do so and failing to implement directives from the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the ruling party.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Peter Mokaba Regional Disciplinary Committee (RDC), RDC Chairperson Stan Maila said Kganyago had not attended the proceedings and did not forward reasons for non-attendance, implying that there was no evidence in mitigation of sentence.
According to information the ANC’s Frans Mohlala House would only resume operations on Monday, giving Kganyago time to still appeal to a higher structure against the outcome of the process.
In the interim Kganyago is at the centre of accusations that he is deliberately delaying on pronouncing a date for a provincial elective congress of the Communist Party structure in Limpopo while the mandate of the provincial executive has lapsed. Questions continuously get raised as to why the Central Committee (CC) of the SACP has not already stepped in to drive the structure in the province towards congress.
A reliable source expressed concern over the SACP’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) last reaching quorum on matters of importance in February last year while the congress to elect a new leadership was already six months overdue.
Sources in the SACP suggested that Chuene Malebana is expected to be punted as possible candidate to run against Kganyago when the party in the province goes to its elective congress. Kganyago’s suspension was seen to have served a blow to his aspirations to remain in the seat as long as possible, a source remarked.
From within SACP ranks the assertion was made that perceptions existed over Kganyago refusing to give in to elements with control over tenders and that he had to be removed. Certain political and department heads affiliated to the Communist Party in the province also stood the danger of being toppled in future, a source said. Another source mentioned that there were discussions within ruling party circles over a possible re-shuffle of Members of the Executive Council (MECs) around the time of Premier Stan Mathabatha’s annual State of the Province address usually delivered in February every year.
A factor to be taken cognisance of was that the tripartite partners in Limpopo have been failing to host an alliance summit for several years now. In conclusion a source alluded to the fact that the ruling party in the province had been engaged in preparations for a summit but that the same did not count for all partners.
When asked for response Kganyago referred all questions to the ruling party. Aluwani Netsianda for the ANC in the province could, however, not be reached.
Approached for comment SACP Provincial Chairperson Teenage Monama pointed out that the Central Committee was investigating the validity of a membership list with names of an estimated 8 600 individuals emanating from Govan Mbeki District in the Waterberg area and forwarded to the national office. In fact only a mere 3 600 members were affiliated to the party in the district while provincial membership stood at 10 000, Monama stressed.
He attributed it to disgruntled party members resorting to delaying tactics, contributing to the party in the province not being able to go to congress towards the second half of last year as intended.
Monama indicated that he expected the matter to be debated during the first meeting of the Central Committee for the year expected to be held in February.
He expressed the opinion that it could be a while still before the structure could go to congress.
Monama denied allegations that party structures in the province had collapsed, saying that the SACP in Limpopo was currently functioning well.
Referring to the ruling party’s provincial executive maintaining silence and an attitude of non-consultation on Kganyago’s suspension by a lower party structure despite their appointing him as mayor, Monama said the fact that it could cause division in the alliance could not be ruled out.
Such division in alliance partner ranks would have a negative effect on the ruling party’s local government electioneering campaign, especially in no-go areas. He concluded saying the SACP in the province would most likely be raising the issue with the ANC after their anniversary celebrations and annual January 8 speech to be delivered by the party leadership in Rustenburg this weekend.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com

Photo: Capricorn District Executive Mayor Gilbert Kganyago.