FORMER Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus has been expelled from the ANC for ‘politically-charged’ comments he made during the July 2021 unrest.
Niehaus, staunch ally of former President Jacob Zuma, was charged with six counts of misconduct for contravening Rule 25 of the ANC Constitution.
The party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC), chaired by Ralph Mgijima, alleges that Niehaus made utterances during the unrest which contravened various sub-rules of Rule 25 and brought the ANC into disrepute.
The NDC earlier recommended to suspend Niehaus for five years, but later decided to expel him after he failed to show any remorse.
The failure to show remorse, according to the NDC, showed that Niehaus was not capable of being rehabilitated.
During the period 9 to 17 July 2021, South Africa experienced violent protests and unrest characterized by widespread looting of shops and businesses following the arrest and imprisonment of the former President.
Niehaus confirmed he has launched an appeal against his expulsion.
“Under the circumstances I will obviously have no other option but to appeal this ridiculously vindictive sentence of expelling me from the ANC. This is not the ANC I know that I joined at the age 19-years in Botswana,” Niehaus said.
Niehaus said he was not informed by the ANC NDC, saying instead he received a call from his colleague and ANC MP, Supra Mahumapelo, alerting him about an expulsion letter doing rounds on social media.
He said the letter was deliberately sent to the media by the ANC NDC without notifying him first.
‘’This letter was simply sent out to the public by that kangaroo court called NDC, it is unacceptable that any person who is affected by such a ridiculous decision would hear from social media,’ said furious Niehaus, adding that the committee failed to show basic decency.
The committee said the utterances of Niehaus were made at a time when circumstances surrounding the arrest and subsequent committal to prison of Zuma was very volatile as evidenced by the subsequent riots which took place in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng resulting in loss of life and damage to property.
“The charged member is expelled from the ANC,” the party’s National Disciplinary Committee said, adding that Niehaus showed no remorse.
But Niehaus came out guns blazing, saying he was sent to Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal to make public the position of MKMVA as a spokesperson.
“On 4th of July 2021, speaking as a national spokesperson of the MKMVA that a decision of the Constitutional Court to have sentenced President Jacob Zuma without trial was illegal, and it indicated that our judiciary is captured.”
“This was a decision taken formally by the National Executive Committee of MKMVA. As a national spokesperson I was given an instruction to travel to Nkandla to make the views known. I carried out my duties diligently” he said.
Niehaus said he felt singled out and targeted because senior members of the ANC such as Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula have made stronger statements over the years about the judiciary, but none have been charged.
Niehaus was represented by ANC veteran Matthew Phosa.
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