Racism in ANC circles

The African National Congress’s (ANC) Winrainbow branch in Polokwane is allegedly under attack from reported racist tendencies and in-fighting, with matters having escalated to a motion of no confidence in the branch executive and the proposed premature re-election of office-bearers.
Caught in the middle of a racist encounter on 29 October this year, branch member Ray Goulkan informed Polokwane Observer that branch, regional and provincial executives had been alerted on the matter but that nothing had come of the directives of the Limpopo structure to the branch executive for steps to be taken.
According to Goulkan, he and fellow-branch member Zeyn Chothia had respectively been called ‘boesman’ and ‘coolie’ that day by an identified youth league member with alcohol in hand when chased out for allegedly entering the church building that would have served as venue for a meeting. The young man reportedly turned on them by calling them racial names.
Goulkan expressed the opinion that the comrade was from a group that claimed they were elected a month prior to the Branch General Meeting (BGM) during a meeting which branch members were not informed about in advance. “We only saw it posted on a whatsapp group for branch members.”
He raised the view that the youth leaguers were gatekeepers for some members who served on the branch executive.
He further alleged that during the same meeting he was told by a so-called gatekeeper for Legislature member and Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) Chairperson Snowy Kennedy-Monyemoratho, who reportedly serves on the branch executive, that his head would be sold as he advanced unto him. According to him he had held the man by the throat as he pushed him away, before they were being separated by other members.
Polokwane Observer was provided with copies of letters which Chothia addressed to the branch executive, the ANC regional and provincial secretaries and eventually the ANC National Secretary General and ANC Disciplinary Committee to have the issue addressed. It was learnt that what was referred to as very serious allegations, warranted the attention of the branch executive and branch disciplinary committee, but despite the fact that it was their mandate to deal with the matter they had failed to do so.
According to Goulkan the situation in the branch had deteriorated to such an extent that a meeting of an estimated 100 members last week called for the branch executive to step down and a new executive to be re-elected. The re-election was apparently planned for yesterday (Wednesday).
Goulkan said that until the meeting of 29 October, the branch hadn’t had a meeting for some 15 months. The last meeting was held to elect a delegate to represent the branch at the national elective conference of the ANC to be held in December. According to him acting branch secretary Mmatlala Pheedi is the delegate to attend the national conference on their behalf.
He stressed that there was no branch executive in existence and that they had killed what was one of the most diversified branches of the ANC across the country. Apart from acting branch secretary the only branch executive committee member who remained neutral and was of value was Joe Machaba, said Goulkan.
At the time of going to press it was learnt that no meeting had been scheduled as yet for the election of a new branch executive.
The acting branch secretary referred Polokwane Observer to the branch chairperson for comment, refusing to provide a number for her. The branch chairperson could, however, not be reached and a voice message left on her phone remained unanswered.

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