The African National Congress (ANC) has defended vice president Paul Mashatile against allegations of fraud and perjury, saying he was not acting in a personal capacity.
This is after Eyewitness News reported on Wednesday that ANC North West members have approached the court accusing Mashatile of perjury.
Mashatile, who was the party’s general secretary at the time, allegedly insisted that the NEC had decided that the North West interim provincial committee (IPC) had the right to call the provincial conference.
Read also: Ramaphosa bypasses Mashatile for representatives ‘will declare enmity’ between them
Molefe said Mashatile set up the NEC meeting in July so that the North West provincial conference could go ahead.
Mashatile, according to the publication, has since written to the court “asking to strike the previous affidavit from the record due to errors”.
‘The right channel’
In a statement, the ANC said it had registered a report of the case which was opened by a person “so-called” to be an ANC member.
“We want to put it on record that the leaders of the ANC act and carry out their responsibilities for the organisation, and not in their personal capacity,” he said.
Also read: What you need to know about Paul Mashatile
“According to our records, all decisions related to the interim provincial committee and provincial executive committee elections were made in accordance with ANC guidelines. The ANC will respond when required by the relevant authorities,” the party said.
He said members with grievances about organizational processes should use the ANC’s existing dispute resolution mechanisms, instead of running to court.
ANC unity
Addressing the special congress of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday, Mashatile called for a new ANC free from self-rule and internal dynamics.
He called for an ANC that is “in touch with the community – an ANC that is responsive to the needs of the people – an ANC that spends more time solving people’s problems.”
Also read: Cabinet reshuffle: The President has a tough job
“Let us remember that unity is the fundamental basis of our organization and alliance. Therefore, unity is sacred!”
Eliminate the burden
Mashatile said the ANC government was still committed to ending the burden disclosure “in the shorter term”.
Also read: Paul Mashatile sworn in as MP ahead of Cabinet reshuffle
“As the ANC, we welcome the establishment of the Ministry of Electricity. This will ensure that there is capacity and dedicated resources to address one of the biggest challenges of our time: energy insecurity,” he said.