ANC dirty-cash row
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Proceeds of cash-in-transit robberies are being used to fund factional battles in the ruling party, the ANC in Gauteng has warned.
ANC provincial secretary David Makhura said the party was worried that proceeds from crime were being used to sow divisions and anarchy in party ranks.
Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg, Makhura said a "notorious gang of anarchists" was trying to hijack the ANC to further a factional agenda.
"They have lots of money and we don't know where it comes from. We suspect that they have dirty money."
There was particular concern about the use of heist money in Tshwane.
His accusations were made only a few weeks after ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe warned members of the party's national executive committee of deep divisions in the party. He said the ANC would celebrate its 100th year more divided than in 2007.
Factional battles have come to prominence in recent months with party members divided over whether President Jacob Zuma should serve another term as ANC president.
Makhura added fire to the debate with his accusations yesterday.
He accused Mafika Mahlangu of being the leader of the "anarchist" group with links to heist gangs.
Mahlangu's reputation was tainted by his association with dead cash-in-transit hijacking kingpin Collin Chauke.
Mahlangu, Chauke and others were arrested after a R12-million robbery in 1997 at the premises of a security company in Pretoria. However, Mahlangu was acquitted.
Last week, he was elected chairman of the Tshwane region of the ANC at a meeting convened by his grouping in parallel with the official ANC meeting. The ANC in Gauteng said yesterday that he and other leaders of his faction had been suspended and would be called to a disciplinary hearing.
"We are not going to be blackmailed by anarchists. We will not allow them to destroy the ANC," Makhura said.
"Mafika is the brains behind this disruption."
Makhura said the parallel meeting last week was organised by a notorious gang of anarchists, most of whom faced disciplinary action.
"They are armed and some of them were involved in heists," Makhura said.
He said the Gauteng ANC had told Mantashe of the "drastic actions" it was taking to restore order to the party's Tshwane region.
Mahlangu could not be reached for comment. But Joel Mphahla, one of the six members suspended with Mahlangu, said last night they could not deal with suspicions.
Mphahla yesterday has rubbished Makhura's claim.
"Makhura should go and lay a charge because we can't clear this thing; it will keep on hanging with suspicion," he said.
"I didn't expect Makhura to actually labour under suspicion.
"To me, he is senior and mature enough to actually start dealing with issues rather than suspicions."
Mahlangu's faction has complained to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela about Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, accusing him of abusing state resources to consolidate his political power.
Madonsela is investigating the claim.
Makhura said the ANC was worried about dubious members using money to get elected. "You don't know how worried the ANC is about dirty money, every conference has money hanging around.''
Despite a clampdown by the ruling on the leadership succession debate, intense lobbying and discussion is in full swing among ANC structures.
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Posted 595 days agozindela
Posted 595 days agosamsam
Posted 595 days agoSuiGeneris
Posted 595 days agoSurely when one make this kind of statement, one must have the evidence and they should be arrested for armed robbery !
Yet.....
''''''''Madonsela is investigating the claim''''''''......????
bis_k'hallawaya
Posted 595 days ago.......And by the way, is Motlanthe competing for the Stupidity Prize with Zuma?.......And he is the choice for the ANC YL???..........GOOD GRIEF!!!!!
Francis
Motlanthe could shed light about the split: Lootfree-house and private pocket for the effort.
BokFan
Posted 595 days agoBut now you have admitted it.
How is it possible that a known violent criminal could stay in the anc ranks and work his way into such an influential position? Because you are all like that. Thats why you elected a man with a shady past and an even shadier future to be your president.
One day when it all comes out these people will feel the lash of the nation on their backs.
PatrickSaunders
Posted 595 days agoAlindubs
Posted 595 days agoMrJikelele
Posted 595 days agoAfuraX1
Posted 595 days agostaren
Posted 595 days ago"Last week, he was elected chairman of the Tshwane region of the ANC..."
Regardless of the fact that he was acquitted, I think that just about says it all...
bis_k'hallawaya
Posted 595 days ago""Bill will restore Khoisan's stolen dignity""""...............How many????.........
MrJikelele
donorfatigued
Posted 594 days agoIt is no good to say, as the ANC spokesman will, that it is only a few members to blame.
When the members are senior in the organisation you can take it as gospel that numerous others are involved, operating with impunity under the ANC banner, whilst those within the organisation who may suspect them of crime have for too long simply turned a blind eye on the grounds of racial solidarity.
This has been the way the ANC has been run for decades, even before it came to power in 1994 - like the Mafia the law of 'omerta' (silence) is paramount.
This disclosure however from another senior ANC apparatchik is encouraging, as it, along with many other strong signs, indicates that the ANC is in the process of collapsing under the weight of it's own corruption and crimes.
Of course Makurha would probably have remained silent as long as the actions financed by dirty money did not affect him directly - such is the culture of the ANC!