‘Ghost’ ANC members probed in provinces
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC recently announced it is probing allegations of ghost branch membership in Limpopo, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
LIMPOPO – Investigations into the allegations had, according to the ANC, started in earnest and expected to be wrapped-up before end of September this year. Both the offices of the Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, and Treasurer General, Zweli Mkhize, are working hand in glove to probe the allegations in the affected regions.
“Yes we can confirm that the party is investigating allegations of ghost membership in several provinces including Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Kwazulu- Natal,” Mkhize told CV last week.
“Our investigation comes in response to challenges in party membership across the country. In most cases, there are queries where people are alleging fraud in membership forms and where there are suspicions of people who have fraudulently used a bank-stamp to make their forms look legit. The probe is poised to ensure the credibility of party elective conferences and to restore the public’s trust,” said Mkhize.
“We call upon our members not to hesitate to approach our offices or to write to us requesting investigations in cases they suspect foul-play. We cannot allow branches to go to their branch general councils with unresolved queries,” Mkhize added.
In Limpopo, Mopani is the only region in the province investigated by Mantashe’s office.
The region, which has been involved in a series of criminal activities involving tampering of membership forms, shooting, injuring and killing of branch members, will reportedly hold its elective conference before the end of this month.
Two months ago, Mantashe boycotted 21 branches from the Giyani area amid similar problems involving improper presentation of membership forms. The branches were later subjected to re-auditing after disgruntled members lodged complaints with Mantashe’s office.
The probe by the party into Limpopo’s wayward and questionable membership comes after preliminary investigations recovered over 3 080 fraudulent forms and that seven branches were not in good standing.
A team comprising high-ranking staffers from the party’s leadership also discovered that bank stamps were used fraudulently, dates on the membership forms did not correspond with the stamps, some names where fabricated, proof of payment was tampered with and teller signatures were also questionable.
The province has five regions, namely: Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Waterberg and Peter Mokaba.
In the run-up to the presidential succession battle between Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa and former AU Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma, the Ramaphosa camps’ Stan Ramaila and Tshitereke Matiba have already bagged Sekhukhune and Vhembe elective conferences respectively.
The remaining regions are Mopani, which is the biggest in terms of membership, Peter Mokaba, the province’s economic hub and capital of Polokwane and the tourism infested region of Waterberg.
New name in the hat, Pule Shai, will contest the incumbent, Seaparo Sekoati for party’s chairperson position while construction mogul, Tsheko Mosoloa, is expected to battle it out with sitting regional secretary, Baisekopo Makamo, for the position of party regional secretary.
