Has the ANC learned anything from MAP 16? 

It looks like the African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State Province has not learned anything from their decision in 2018 to expel 16 councilors in Maluti-A-Phofung municipality, a decision which proves to be costly to this as they lost the municipality.

The 16 councilors voted with the opposition to oust Vusi Tshabalala, their expulsion led to a by-elections where ANC lost to the coalition government in 2018.

In the 2021 Local Government Elections MAP16 reduced the ANC into opposition after losing its majority. 

Following the expulsion of eight (08) members who happen to be deployed as councilors in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. 

According to a statement from the office of the disciplinary committee of eight members, three are members of the Interim Regional Committee (IRC). 

They all faced two charges: 

• declaring to vote as per individual conscience 

• vote in support of the opposition 

“The Regional Disciplinary Committee found all eight guilt of gross misconduct and in line with rule 25.18 and rule 25.17.13 of the ANC constitution decided that the members in question were no longer fit to remain as members of the ANC and therefore with immediate be expelled from the organization”, reads the statement

The expelled members are: 

• Chabeli Rampai

• Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane

• Stephany Lockman-Naidoo

• Patrick Monyakoane

• Puseletso Seleke

• Mpho Mokoakoa

• Lelala Makoa

• Lehlohonolo Moqolo

It is not clear as yet if the members have appealed. 

The expulsion of these eight members has triggered 14 other councilors in Mangaung to give the ANC ultimatum to reverse the expulsion of their eight fellows or they will resign with effect from 30 August 2022.

That will lead to by-elections in Mangaung Metro. 

All thirteen letters in the position of this publication are not signed and they are all carbon copies. 

We had not yet verified these letters at the time of publishing.

Interestingly, before the 2021 local government elections, the ANC begged the 16 expelled councilors in Maluti-A-Phofung to come back and they showed the ANC the middle finger, one would have thought the ruling party leaders have at least learned anything from that poor decision but maybe they want to see eight expelled grab power in Mangaung.

This is a developing story.

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