PHUTI MOSOMANE
FORMER Social Development Minister and ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini is no longer eligible to stand for nomination as a candidate to serve in the National Executive Committee of the ANC, according to party chairperson of the Electoral Committee Kgalema Motlanthe.
In a letter addressed to Dlamini, Motlanthe said the committee has conducted the vetting process and revealed information which negatively affects her eligibility to stand for nomination as a candidate for all NEC positions during the 55th National Conference, due to take place at Nasrec from 16 to 20th December.
“The vetting information at our disposal reveals that you have a historical record of being found guilty of a serious crime in a court of law for which the prison sentence had been more than six months. You are summarily disqualified as a candidate for all NEC positions including additional members during the 55th National Conference,” Motlanthe said.
According to the rules approved by the NEC, no member of the ANC may contest ANC elections for leadership if ” they have been found guilty of, or have been charged with unethical or immoral conduct, or any serious crime, or corruption”.
Nazoke the fight is on you are in the list second time and you are told stories after the process is complete pic.twitter.com/rJXKWgeOY1
— Bathabile Dlamini (@sbahlesonke0) December 8, 2022
Members of the party, especially in Limpopo and KZN, have on record complained about the application of the step aside rules governing who can stand for leadership positions.
Going into the national elective conference next week, others have argued for the policy to be scrapped while some wanted it to be refined.
On 9 March 2022, the Johannesburg Magistrates Court found Dlamini guilty of perjury following her testimony under oath before a section 38 inquiry established by the Constitutional Court.
The purpose of the inquiry was to determine the then minister’s role in the social grants crisis in 2017 when millions of beneficiaries were put at risk with no plan in place to continue paying grants after an invalid contract with Cash Paymaster Services came to an end.
On Friday, the ANC NEC will be meeting to discuss a panel report on Phala Phala forex scandal.
Some analysts say the meeting is likely going to be the most heated given that Parliament will be sitting on Monday to consider Section 89 report on Phala Phala.
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