ANC to discipline 'unruly members'

THE ANC in North West has threatened to take harsh steps against unruly members who disrupted a provincial executive committee meeting.

Police had to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a mob of ANC members who had invaded a heated meeting of the provincial executive committee (PEC) in Rustenburg last Sunday.

ANC provincial secretary Kabelo Mataboge said the ANC was going to discipline members who disrupted the meeting.

The tense meeting, which was addressed by the party secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, discussed, among other things, the recall of ANC mayors and the suspension of the party secretary in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region.

The PEC meeting was divided on whether to suspend the regional executive committee (REC) over its decision on the the two mayors and regional secretary.

Dr Kenneth Kaunda mayor Boitumelo Moloi, his counterpart Maphetle Maphetle of the Tlokwe local municipality, and ANC regional secretary Aubuti Chika were fired by the REC last week on allegations of corruption and maladministration.

Sowetan understands that Mantashe left before the meeting ended. He allegedly claimed the matter might come before him for mediation.

As Mantashe was being escorted out, a group of ANC members, who allegedly supported the firing of the mayors and secretary, invaded the meeting and caused chaos.

Mataboge told Sowetan yesterday: "We condemn this unbecoming behaviour. The ANC will take action against individuals who bring the organisation into disrepute," said Mataboge.

He said the decision to recall the mayors and general secretary was reversed during the PEC meeting.

Mataboge added that the REC had no constitutional powers to remove mayors and a regional secretary.